RH Perry & Associates Assists Holyoke Community College with Provost Search
June 11, 2026 – RH Perry & Associates recently helped to place Jessica Nicklin as provost and vice president for academic affairs at Holyoke Community College (HCC). Senior consultants Jessie Thompson and Levy Brown led the assignment. “Dr. Nicklin is a respected leader in higher education and an organizational psychologist, recognized for her strategic vision, collaborative leadership, and dedication to student, faculty, and institutional success,” said George Timmons, president of HCC. “She is a proud, first-generation college graduate, and her extensive experience in academic and student affairs will be instrumental in advancing our strategic plan and enhancing HCC’s impact in our community.”
Dr. Nicklin currently serves as associate provost for faculty affairs and research and a professor of psychology at the University of Hartford, where she has worked for nearly 17 years.
Soon after completing her doctorate in 2009, Dr. Nicklin received an academic appointment at the University of Hartford as assistant professor of psychology. Since then, she has risen through the academic ranks to tenured professor, while also taking on administrative responsibilities as program director, associate dean of student academic services, associate vice president for student success, assistant provost for graduate studies and research, and finally associate provost for faculty affairs and research, a position she assumed in 2023.
“This truly feels like the perfect opportunity,” Dr. Nicklin said. “The shared commitment to both academic and student affairs is what initially drew me to the position, and as I’ve engaged with the HCC community, I’ve been continually impressed and inspired by the unwavering focus on supporting students. I’m excited to join the institution at a moment of strategic planning and forward momentum.”
Holyoke Community College is a public community college in Holyoke, Massachusetts, and the state’s first community college, founded in 1946 as Holyoke Junior College. It offers associate degrees and certificate programs designed for both career entry and transfer to four-year institutions, with a wide mix of academic and workforce-focused pathways and strong transfer agreements across Massachusetts.
Serving Academic Institutions
Established in 1974, RH Perry & Associates offers strong credentials and experience in academic executive search, having completed well over 1,000 searches in its history. Serving both two-year and four-year institutions, the firm’s higher education practice consists of senior-level executives with a well-balanced mix of college and university presidential and senior administrative experience and executive search expertise.
Related: RH Perry & Associates Recruits President for Onondaga Community College
Headquartered in Ashville, NC, RH Perry’s consultants maintain offices in Washington, D.C., Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Kentucky, Missouri, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia, and Washington.
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Mr. Thompson, director of community college searches, has led, or participated in, a wide range of presidential and senior administrative higher education searches. His experience spans large and small, urban, suburban and rural institutions nationwide. Mr. Thompson has provided services to both single and multi-campus institutions. His experience in higher education includes a combination of more than 40 years in Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, and Michigan of senior-level administration, community college trustee service, and college teaching experience.
Dr. Brown is a strategic, intentional, highly collaborative, visionary, and inclusive leader with nearly 24 years of experience in higher education. He has worked to impact student experiences within the community college and university environments. Dr. Brown is a leader who has a track record of partnering with students, faculty, staff, senior administration, business and industry partners, local and state government officials to ensure positive outcomes for students, institutions, and communities. He has served in multiple senior executive roles and is the incoming VP of academic and student affairs at Halifax Community College, a member institution of the North Carolina Community College System.
Related: RH Perry & Associates Recruits 13th President for Briar Cliff University
Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief and Dale M. Zupsansky, Executive Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media
