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
Alan S. Cureton
Senior Consultant
Al.Cureton@academicsearch.org
Dr. Alan S. Cureton joined the Academic Search senior consulting team a year after retiring from the presidency of Northwestern University – St. Paul. During his efficacious 20 years as UNW’s president, Dr. Cureton oversaw tremendous growth in academic excellence and fiscal health while holding firmly to Northwestern’s Christ-centered foundation. As a highly sought-after advisor for various higher education topics, Dr. Cureton now lends his expert knowledge and experience to Academic Search and its partner institutions.
Dr. Cureton pursued a Christian education degree in his undergraduate studies while starring on the football team at Sterling College in Kansas. In his four-year career with the Warriors, Dr. Cureton started every game and earned all-conference honors. Dr. Cureton views his role in education similarly to his time on the gridiron: as a lineman, he aimed to create pathways for others to succeed. Likewise, as an educator and administrator, Dr. Cureton’s purpose was to do the same, and he hopes to continue that mission as a senior consultant.
Under Dr. Cureton’s leadership, Northwestern – St. Paul saw a nearly 40-percent increase in total enrollment, plus the addition of several undergraduate degrees and the re-establishment of Graduate Studies at Northwestern. In addition, five major buildings were completed in the Cureton era, including a media center, performance hall, student life center, and more. In the fall of 2014, NWU completed Reynolds Field, a sprawling athletic complex with six tennis courts, baseball and softball fields, and a football/soccer/lacrosse field. Dr. Cureton was also president when Northwestern welcomed the addition of the Wilson Center for the School of Nursing, a new residence hall (Akenson Hall), and Rosedale Square for the School of Engineering. These significant expansions and improvements highlight Dr. Cureton’s proficiency in strategic and financial planning.
Dr. Cureton’s expertise in various areas of higher education makes him a popular keynote and conference speaker, particularly for student affairs and advancement conferences for commissions of the Council of Christian Colleges and Universities (CCCU). He has been a featured speaker at engagements in South Korea, Malawi, Kenya, South Africa, Mongolia, and Northern Ireland. Dr. Cureton was also president of Northwestern Media, a media ministry of the University of Northwestern – St. Paul. The media ministry reaches more than a million listeners weekly—on the air and worldwide over the Internet—through 23 radio stations that offer encouraging and uplifting music, biblical teaching, and dynamic listener engagement.
As a senior consultant, Dr. Cureton looks forward to applying his years of experience in a new realm of higher education. By using his vast network and building meaningful relationships with search committee members and administrations, Dr. Cureton is confident he can help institutions recruit and hire outstanding candidates who will lead colleges and universities to success.
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
