As the first organization dedicated to higher education executive search, our service model has always focused on outstanding executive recruitment for colleges and universities. We have years of experience in the sector and understand the unique needs higher education institutions have when hiring.
We’ve proudly concluded more than 2,600 successful searches for Presidents/Chancellors, Provosts, Vice Presidents, and Deans in a variety of disciplines.
Administrative Areas:
Academic Affairs | Admissions & Enrollment | Advancement | Business & Finance | General Counsel | Human Resources | Information Technology | Marketing & Communications | Operations | Student Affairs | Student Success | And Many Others
Academic Disciplines:
Architecture | Arts & Humanities | Business & Economics | Education | Healthcare/Nursing | Hospitality | Libraries | STEM | And Many Others
We’re With You Every Step of the Way
Academic Search serves as your partner in a collaborative search effort. Our senior consultants interact extensively with your search committee to assist with organizing and managing the search process, and informing the crucial decisions of the search committees and hiring authorities.
We use a four-step process to frame our higher education executive search process: organize the search; lead recruitment; evaluate, select, and interview semifinalists; and close the search.
Organize
Academic Search works side-by-side with our partner institutions to analyze your needs, set specific goals, and develop operating guidelines. During this preliminary phase, we meet with appropriate departments such as human resources to ensure that the search process conforms to the regulations, requirements, and culture of our partner institution or organization.
Recruit
A key step in the search process is building a strong candidate pool with the unique qualifications of the open position. By getting to know your institution well, we guarantee we are finding candidates who fit with the mission and culture of the role. We cast a wide net to find the very best candidates, locally, nationally, and globally, and tap into our extensive networks to identify a broad group of candidates.
Through our connection to leadership development programs through our parent organization, the American Academic Leadership Institute, and many of our consultants actively participating in conferences and programs across the country, we are able to tap into an even larger range of candidates who are ready for their next role.
Evaluate, Select, and Interview
We partner with your search committee in designing and implementing a selection process tailored to your needs and campus culture. Our process involves working with you to develop an objective review method for evaluating candidates. Our senior consultants are actively involved in recruitment and evaluation and openly share insights into conversations with candidates and others throughout the interview process.
Close the Search
Our senior consultants work with you to not only select the finalists but also perform background checks and reference calls. We ensure consistent communication with all finalists throughout the process.
Once the campus interviews are completed, we ensure the search is brought to a successful conclusion. Our consultants can help develop recommendations to the hiring authority to facilitate a smooth transition for the newly hired candidate which might include communications strategies and a transition plan.
Beyond the Search
Leadership transitions can be both energizing and stressful times for institutional communities. We strive to guide you and your institution through these changes throughout the leadership lifecycle by providing transition and onboarding support as well as executive coaching.
Why Academic Search
As the first executive search firm dedicated to higher education, we bring a deep understanding of the evolving challenges and opportunities within the higher education landscape. Our team is composed of higher education leaders who bring a wealth of knowledge and expansive networks. Through this experience, we are uniquely positioned to understand, appreciate, and address the specific needs of each institution we partner with.
High Retention Rates
The very high percentages of appointees from our searches who remain in office five years later is strong evidence of our careful attention to institutional/appointee fit.
Meet Our Senior Consultants
Tara S. Singer
Senior Consultant
Tara.Singer@academicsearch.org
For Dr. Tara S. Singer, higher education is the family business. Practically raised on the University of Louisville campus starting at age six when her father became a faculty member, the Kentucky native knew from a young age that she had an innate passion for academe. When her mother began working in student affairs, Dr. Singer discovered the world of college administration and found her calling. After more than four decades in an array of higher education and leadership positions, Dr. Singer lends her expertise to Academic Search as a Senior Consultant.
Dr. Singer recently retired as the President and Chief Executive Officer of Omicron Delta Kappa, the prestigious national leadership society, after ten years at the helm. Under her leadership, O∆K completed the organization’s first-ever multi-million-dollar comprehensive campaign. In addition, Dr. Singer oversaw the expansion of the honor society to 55 campuses across the country, coordinated the activities of O∆K’s Board of Trustees, and served as editor-in-chief of its publications. As the Society’s CEO, Dr. Singer forged relationships with students, faculty, and administrators at institutions across the nation, allowing her to stay current on the challenges higher education faces and maintain an invaluable network of professionals.
Before joining O∆K, for more than 30 years Dr. Singer held various higher education roles. She began her career working in athletic academic advising at the University of Louisville, and she was later hired as an Associate Registrar and a leader in the enrollment management division. After completing her doctorate, she became Louisville’s Assistant Vice President for Alumni Relations and Executive Director of the Alumni Association.
In 2004, Dr. Singer left her longtime home and was named Vice President for University Advancement at the University of West Georgia. In this role, she oversaw alumni relations, athletics, communications and marketing, development, governmental affairs, and printing services. Later, Dr. Singer was the head of the Illinois Institute of Technology’s Alumni Association, and then Assistant Vice President for Communications and Marketing at Indiana State University. Through these positions, Dr. Singer developed an affinity for institutional advancement positions and gained invaluable knowledge of university governance.
As a Senior Consultant, Dr. Singer can utilize her rich experiences and exceptional ability to recognize executive leadership talent. She is guided by a sincere love of higher education and helping people make their next career move. Dr. Singer’s work in consulting is personal, and she sees it as an opportunity to pay it forward to all the people who guided her and helped shape her professional life.
We look forward to partnering with you. Contact us for a complimentary search consultation or request for proposal.
1250 Connecticut Avenue NW, Suite 700 Washington, DC 20036-2657
Phone: 202-332-4049
Fax: 202-234- 7640
