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
Daniel A. DiBiasio
Senior Consultant
Dan.DiBiasio@academicsearch.org
Dr. Daniel A. DiBiasio has over 40 years of experience in higher education. He most recently served as the 11th President of Ohio Northern University from 2011–2022. Prior to that appointment, he served as President of Wilmington College for 16 years from 1995–2011.
He began his career in 1974 at Rocky Mountain College in Billings, MT, where he served as an Admissions Counselor and Dean of Students until 1978 when he enrolled in graduate school. After earning his Ph.D. from Ohio State University in 1982, he was appointed Assistant Dean of Ohio State’s Graduate School. He was an Executive Officer of the Council of Presidents for the New England Land Grant Universities from 1984–87. At the University of New Hampshire, Dr. DiBiasio served as Executive Assistant to the President from 1987–91 and Chief Student Affairs Officer from 1991–95. During his career, Dr. DiBiasio has taught courses at both the graduate and undergraduate levels, published in academic journals, and given scholarly presentations at national and regional conferences.
Notable achievements during his recent presidency at ONU include effective strategic and master planning initiatives, successful fundraising for capital projects and endowment growth, expanding and renovating campus facilities, adding academic and co-curricular programs to increase enrollment and retention, and enhancing the value of high-impact learning, service, and civic engagement as educational priorities.
Dr. DiBiasio has held many leadership roles in higher education, serving on boards at the national and state levels, including the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities (NAICU), the NCAA Division III President’s Council, and chairing the boards of the Educational and Institutional Insurance Administrators (EIIA) and Ohio Campus Compact. He also served the local community during his terms on the boards of Liberty Bank and Lima Memorial Hospital.
He earned a Bachelor of Arts in English from Ohio Wesleyan University and a master’s and Ph.D. from Ohio State University College of Education. He was awarded honorary doctorates from both Wilmington College and Ohio Northern University and was named President Emeritus of ONU upon his retirement. Ohio Wesleyan University awarded him a Distinguished Alumni Citation in 2021.
Dr. DiBiasio is married to Chris Burns-DiBiasio, who also received an honorary doctorate from ONU in 2022 for her community relations work. They reside in Williston, VT, and have two sons and daughters-in-law, Matthew and Devon, and Michael and Sarah, and two grandchildren, Eddie and Eleanor.
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
