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Ashley Hunter2024-03-13 16:59:162026-09-15 15:17:48HERS Executive Coaching Circles: Empowering Women Leaders in Higher EducationPodcast: Leaders on Leadership with Jay Lemons
Today’s higher education leaders share their stories and insights about leadership in the academy. Join host Dr. L. Jay Lemons and his guests for thoughtful conversations and interesting perspectives on leadership.
In our latest episode, Dr. Suzanne Smith, President of SUNY Potsdam, reflects on a leadership journey shaped by influential mentors and more than two decades at Washington State University Vancouver, where she arrived as the campus was being built from the ground up and rose from faculty member to academic director. A chance meeting with a textbook author at an undergraduate research conference led to a research lab invitation and, eventually, a call to fill in for her own departing professor at Erskine College—the moment she discovered a love of teaching she’d never expected. In this episode, Dr. Smith discusses how she uses CliftonStrengths and Winnie the Pooh personality types to build teams that complement rather than mirror each other, how she coaches “Eeyores,” and why authenticity and emotional leadership matter more to her than projecting confidence.
Leaders on Leadership is brought to you by Academic Search and the American Academic Leadership Institute, who together support colleges and universities during times of transition and through leadership development activities that serve current and future generations of institutional leaders.
Dr. Suzanne Smith
President, SUNY Potsdam
On Leadership & the Academy
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Ashley Hunter2024-03-13 16:59:162026-09-15 15:17:48HERS Executive Coaching Circles: Empowering Women Leaders in Higher Education
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Ashley Hunter2024-03-06 15:27:062026-09-15 17:14:45Welcoming Six New Consultants to Our Practice
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Ashley Hunter2024-02-22 10:01:112026-09-15 15:18:42Crafting Effective Application Materials for Academic Leadership Roles
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Ashley Hunter2024-01-24 11:42:202026-09-15 17:14:50Hasselmo Honored by the Council of Independent Colleges
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Ashley Hunter2023-11-02 07:14:272026-09-15 17:14:54Academic Search Establishes Fund for Leadership Development for Two Higher Education Organizations
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Ashley Hunter2023-09-18 08:31:432026-09-15 15:20:42Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month 2023
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Ashley Hunter2023-09-14 14:30:472026-09-15 17:15:08Introducing Our Newest Senior Consultant: Dr. Mary E. Kennard
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Ashley Hunter2023-08-30 14:05:492026-09-15 17:15:13Four Distinguished Leaders Join Academic Search Board, Honoring Departing Members
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Ashley Hunter2023-08-23 11:51:112026-09-15 15:21:5110 Commandments for Boards and New Presidents
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Ashley Hunter2023-07-25 14:46:152026-09-15 15:21:43Ensuring Equity in the Search Process
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Ashley Hunter2023-06-27 09:55:062026-09-15 17:15:18Executive Coaching Practice Expands with 7 New Coaches
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Ashley Hunter2023-06-22 16:11:002026-09-15 17:15:2310 New Members Join Academic Search’s Consulting Team
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Ashley Hunter2023-05-16 16:20:492026-09-15 15:23:46Leadership Development: Key to Cabinet Success
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Ashley Hunter2023-03-13 14:19:252026-09-15 15:24:21Upward Mobility for Women in Higher Education
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Ashley Hunter2023-02-05 14:29:372026-09-15 15:24:37Acknowledging the History in Black History Month
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Ashley Hunter2023-01-25 16:09:392026-09-15 17:19:42Reframing Leadership Development in Higher Education
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Ashley Hunter2023-01-12 17:52:152026-09-15 17:20:55The Changing College Presidency and How Executive Coaching Can Help
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Ashley Hunter2022-11-05 14:24:542026-09-15 17:21:545 Myths of Executive Coaching
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Ashley Hunter2021-12-15 12:45:322026-09-15 15:26:33The Use of Technology in Higher Education Executive Search
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Ashley Hunter2021-11-30 11:51:102026-09-15 15:25:24Chief Diversity Officer: The Toughest Job You Will Ever Love
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Ashley Hunter2021-11-15 15:10:052026-09-15 15:26:08The Impetus for Transitioning and Onboarding a Newly Appointed President
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Ashley Hunter2021-04-03 13:33:142026-09-15 15:42:44COVID-19 Impacts on Leadership Transitions and the Search Process
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Ashley Hunter2020-11-10 15:07:382026-09-15 15:27:52Strengthening the Foundation: Creating an Inclusive Environment for New Leaders
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Ashley Hunter2020-09-15 15:17:332026-09-15 15:28:36Sharpening the Lens for Hiring LeadersViewpoints
Spotlight: Recruiting Leaders for Higher Education in a Time of Change
Dr. L. Jay Lemons spoke with Hunt Scanlon about the current market for recruiting university and college presidents and other leadership.
Higher Education Chief Diversity Officer: The Toughest Job You Will Ever Love
Dr. L. Jay Lemons and Dr. Carlos N. Medina wrote the following article which was featured in Diverse Magazine!
How HR Can Help Build the Organization of the Future
Dianne Kenney and Dr. Shawn M. Hartman speak with Hunt Scanlon about the impact of the pandemic on HR executives and how executive search firms can assist HR executives to conduct searches that internal campus HR departments often do not have the resources or expertise to provide.
Hunt Scanlon Media and Dr. L. Jay Lemons
Dr. L. Jay Lemons spoke with Hunt Scanlon Media to discuss the current market for recruiting university and college presidents and other leadership, as well as the skillsets needed for a successful presidency and how diversity, equity, and inclusion have played a greater role in the recruitment process.
Wisconsin Public Radio and Dr. L. Jay Lemons
Dr. L. Jay Lemons spoke with Wisconsin Public Radio about the 2020 search for the next president of the University of Wisconsin System.
Higher Ed Search Reimagined with Dr. Jay Lemons
Dr. L. Jay Lemons joined Dr. Melissa Morriss-Olson on her podcast, IngenioUs. They discussed how to prepare for a career change, how to navigate the search process including what things to avoid, and how to discern whether a presidency is the best next step.
Viewpoints
ABA Journal Article Featuring Bill Howard
William F. Howard was quoted in the April/May 2021 issue of the ABA Journal discussing how many lawyers, including law deans, are becoming college presidents.
Academic Search Partners with CUMU
What will the state of higher education be in 2030? For its 2020 Annual Conference, the Coalition of Urban and Metropolitan Universities (CUMU) invited transformational leaders to imagine higher education ten years from now and share perspectives on how to push the conversation forward. Academic Search was honored to sponsor this virtual event and our President, Dr. L. Jay Lemons, served as moderator for the keynote address. He was joined by an exceptional trio of leaders: Terri Givens, CEO and founder of The Center for Higher Education Leadership, now known as Brighter Higher Ed; Michael Fitts, President of Tulane University; and Dr. Michael Hinojosa, Superintendent of Dallas Independent School District. We invite you to watch their session.
Recruiting College Presidents During the Pandemic
Our president, Dr. L. Jay Lemons, was recently interviewed by Hunt Scanlon on “Recruiting College Presidents During the Pandemic” and discussed what institutions and the executive recruiting sector are encountering and likely to confront moving forward.
Becoming Visible: Getting on Recruiter Radars
Senior Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Dr. Shawn M. Hartman, was a panelist on “Becoming Visible: Getting on Recruiter Radars”, hosted by BlueSteps, and discussed effective networking and personal branding advice that will help get you noticed.
Dr. L. Jay Lemons Joined Hunt Scanlon Media Host Rob Adams for 2 Episodes of “Talent Talks”
In “Recruiting Presidents for Academia,” Dr. L. Jay Lemons and Dr. Richard Ekman, former President of the Council of Independent Colleges, discussed the skills and traits now required of successful university presidents and what skill sets have changed over the last decade.
In “Future of the College Presidency,” Dr. L. Jay Lemons was joined by Dr. Scott Miller, President of Virginia Wesleyan University, and explored how Academic Search is keeping up with the transforming role of the college presidency.
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Higher Education’s Leadership Pipeline is Stronger Than the Headlines Suggest
The headlines suggest fewer people want to lead colleges and universities. Our experience tells a different story. After conducting more than 100 presidential searches in the past five years, we continue to see strong, talented, and deeply committed leaders stepping forward to serve higher education. Academic Search President Jay Lemons reflects on what we are seeing across the leadership landscape: strong candidate pools, growing investment in leadership development, increased support through executive coaching, and encouraging signs that higher education leadership is becoming more representative of the communities institutions serve.
Leadership Renewal Starts with Intention
Leaders across higher education are being asked to do more with less, often while setting aside their own professional and personal growth. When we neglect well-being and renewal, we risk burnout, disconnection, and mission drift. This resource offers a range of practical ways to support leadership renewal for yourself, your team, and emerging leaders at your institution.
A Guide to Effective & Strategic Cabinet Retreats
Effective leadership teams leverage annual cabinet retreats to enhance capacity building and ongoing learning. These retreats are an opportunity for a president to invest in their team, clarify expectations, deepen relationships and collaboration, align and commit to institutional priorities, and build a plan and momentum for the year ahead. Presidents who approach cabinet retreats intentionally and strategically can expect heightened team dynamics that lead to a more sustained and focused impact.
Competencies for the College Presidency
The college presidency has always been demanding, and the post-pandemic era presents intensified challenges such as political polarization, campus unrest, demographic shifts, and financial constraints. Effective presidential competencies evolve with these contexts, requiring a constellation of adaptable skills, highlighted in this research.
Building Resilient Leadership: Lessons from Deloitte’s Higher Education Trends
In a rapidly changing educational landscape, the role of presidential leadership has never been more critical. Rodney Clark, Senior Consultant, shares his perspective on the latest observations from Deloitte on higher education trends.
Academic Search Welcomes Mike Maxey and Timothy Mottet as Senior Consultants
We are thrilled to announce the expansion of our team with two experienced higher education professionals, Mr. Michael C. Maxey and Dr. Timothy Mottet, joining as Senior Consultants. Their extensive experience and profound insights promise to bolster our capability to support academic institutions in achieving strategic success.
Strengthening Our Executive Coaching Practice with New Director
We are pleased to welcome Meg Richtman as the new Director of our Executive Coaching Practice. Ms. Richtman’s extensive experience and visionary leadership will help expand our capabilities and impact. In this new role, she will lead our coaching practice operations and enhance the resources to support our Senior Executive Coaches, ultimately building on the momentum and impact of the Executive Coaching Practice and advancing our unique commitment to leader effectiveness and well-being.
Leaving the Presidency with Grace
Transitioning out of a presidential role in higher education is an art form, balancing personal reflection with institutional foresight. Drawing from their own experiences as former presidents, Senior Consultants Tara Singer, of Omicron Delta Kappa, and Margaret Venable, of Dalton State College, offer a blueprint for outgoing leaders aiming to sculpt a legacy while leaving their institutions well-prepared for future challenges and opportunities. Their invaluable insights center on applying the principles of self-management, successor support, and staff engagement.