Witt/Kieffer Makes Additions To Higher Education Practice

January 9, 2014 – Executive search firm Witt/Kieffer has added three new consultants to the firm’s higher education practice. Robert Luke joins the practice as a New England-based associate. He will assist in identifying presidents, chancellors, provosts, deans and vice presidents on behalf of public and private colleges and universities. Mr. Luke most recently served as the special assistant to the office of the provost for George Washington University in Washington, D.C. Margaret Plympton, based in Nazareth, PA, joins Witt/Kieffer as an executive search consultant in both the firm’s higher education and not-for-profit practices. She will support nationwide searches for presidents, chancellors, provosts and deans, as well as leaders in research, academic medicine, IT, finance, administration, and other areas. Ms. Plympton formerly served for more than 10 years as the vice president for finance and administration at Lehigh University. Zachary A. Smith, Ph.D. becomes part of the firm’s higher education practice as a consultant. Based in Irvine, California, he will focus on recruiting advancement officers as well as other high-level administrators including presidents, provosts, chancellors and deans. Most recently, Dr. Smith held the role of interim chief development officer and EVP for the UCR Foundation, as well as assistant vice chancellor for development at the University of California, Riverside. Witt/Kieffer assists hospitals, health systems, academic medical centers, medical schools and physician groups; biotech, pharmaceutical, diagnostics and medical device companies; colleges and universities and not-for-profit community service and cultural organizations with senior administrative recruiting assignments.