ZRG Retained by Virginia Union University to Lead Chief Investment Officer Search
February 26, 2026 – ZRG Partners has been retained by Virginia Union University to lead in its search for a chief investment officer. Dakota Doman, managing director in ZRG’s education practice, and principal Jerel Booker are leading the assignment. The chief investment officer will play a pivotal role in advancing this vision. This senior executive will develop and implement comprehensive investment strategies aligned with the university’s long-term objectives. They will oversee portfolio management to maximize returns while prudently managing risk.
“This is more than an investment leadership role,” Dr. Dakota said in a LinkedIn post. “It is an opportunity to steward resources in service of purpose — to ensure that financial strategy directly fuels access, equity, innovation, and generational impact.”
Those applying for this role must bring strong knowledge of financial markets, investment instruments, and regulatory environments in the United States. They should have a bachelor’s degree (master’s degree preferred) in finance, economics, business administration, or a related field as well as at least 10 years of progressive experience in investment management or a related financial sector role. Candidates must have proven track record of managing large investment portfolios with demonstrable success in achieving financial targets.
Virginia Union University is a private, historically Black university (HBCU) located in Richmond, Virginia, founded in 1865 shortly after the Civil War to provide newly emancipated African Americans with access to higher education and opportunity. The institution grew through the merger of several predecessor schools and today offers undergraduate and graduate programs across liberal arts, business, education, and theology on an urban campus, while also competing in NCAA Division II athletics as the Panthers. The university is the result of a merger among four historic institutions: Richmond Theological Seminary, Wayland Seminary, Hartshorn Memorial, and Storer College.
Under the visionary leadership of Hakim J. Lucas, 13th president and CEO, the university has embraced a bold framework centered on Economic and Social Mobility (ESM) — integrating student success, generational wealth building, entrepreneurial enterprise, and institutional resilience.
Related: Reinforcing Leadership at Historically Black Colleges
ZRG, founded in 1999, is a fast-growing global talent advisory firm with the financial backing of private equity investor RFE Investment Partners. It provides a full suite of executive, middle management, and customized search solutions through its offices in North America, Europe, South America, and Asia. The firm finds leaders across a broad spectrum of business markets, including aerospace, consumer, education, healthcare services, and solutions, industrial, life sciences, non-profit, private equity and venture capital, and technology. ZRG is based in Rochelle Park, NJ.
The University of Alabama System Taps ZRG for President Search
The University of Alabama System has kicked off a national search to identify the next president of The University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH), partnering with global executive search firm ZRG to lead the effort. ZRG consultants Lori Hemmer and Barry Vines will guide the process, bringing extensive experience in higher education leadership searches. Let’s take a look inside the assignment.
ZRG’s dedicated education practice is comprised of a team of seasoned executives who have represented educational institutions throughout the United States. Collectively, they have represented 300+ educational clients and successfully completed more than 2,100 searches within the past 10 years. ZRG has longstanding relationships with public and private colleges, universities, districts, and systems of all sizes.
Proven Search Consultants
Dr. Domain has more than 15 years of leadership experience spanning higher education administration, executive search, organizational strategy, and governmental affairs. He has a comprehensive perspective on leadership needs within academic institutions, especially Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). Before ZRG, Dr. Domain was the president and managing principal of TM2 Executive Search, the only search firm founded to provide executive talent solutions to HBCUs, where his work focused on inclusive leadership recruitment, strategic talent pipelines, and governance transformation, contributing to successful placements in C-suite and senior academic roles across the country. He has served as an executive administrator, academician, strategist, policy analyst, governmental relations liaison, and researcher. Dr. Doman has presented over 75 presentations across the country on various higher education topics related to HBCUs, organizational leadership and change management, talent acquisition, and student success.
Mr. Booker is a senior executive and talent strategist with more than two decades of leadership experience driving organizational performance, strengthening leadership pipelines, and advancing mission-critical priorities across higher education, K–12 systems, government, and the non-profit sector. He most recently served as associate managing principal and chief operating officer at TM² Executive Search, where he led national searches, particularly for HBCUs, and oversaw enterprise operations, aligning people, processes, and technology to accelerate firm-wide growth and deliver measurable client impact.
Related: The High Demand for Higher Education Leaders Continues
Contributed by Scott A. Scanlon, Editor-in-Chief and Dale M. Zupsansky, Executive Editor – Hunt Scanlon Media
