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
Eric Richtmyer
Senior Consultant
Eric.Richtmyer@academicsearch.org
Dr. Eric Richtmyer joined Academic Search in 2014 at the start of a new chapter in his career. With tenacity, motivation, and desire to excel in the field, he quickly proved to be one of the most instrumental senior consultants at the firm. Dr. Richtmyer has had a hand in a myriad of successful searches for positions at all levels of an administrative staff.
Dr. Richtmyer’s working career began in teaching, as he taught at universities across the country for half a decade. He spent time at the University of Minnesota, Colorado Mesa University, and the Maryland Institute College of Art, teaching courses in history, global studies, humanistic studies, and more. Though he enjoyed his time on a faculty and interacting directly with students, he wanted to make a broader impact outside the classroom. So, he did what he would often tell students to do if they were struggling to decide on a career path: get more education. Dr. Richtmyer opted to pursue a Master of Business Administration at Johns Hopkins University and explore new options.
The Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges (AGB) offered an internship to Dr. Richtmyer, which unveiled to him the possibilities in higher education governance and the impact of helping an administrative staff prosper. By the time his internship was over, Dr. Richtmyer discovered not only was he interested in consulting and advising work, but he could thrive in it and make a difference beyond teaching.
Dr. Richtmyer was initially hired by Academic Search as a Consultant and often worked alongside senior consultants on various searches. After just two years, Dr. Richtmyer demonstrated his immense talent as an advisor, his analysis skills, and his ability to be successful, and he was named Senior Consultant in 2016. With as many searches as Dr. Richtmyer has performed, he has gained the ability to modify his search approach. A search committee and institution stakeholders can count on Dr. Richtmyer to develop a customized plan that meets their needs and satisfy the goals they hope to accomplish. Whether an institution prefers virtual check-ins, in-person meetings, a quick turnaround, or a months-long process, Dr. Richtmyer can accommodate the requests.
With his diplomatic demeanor and commitment to enriching an institution with exceptional hires, Dr. Richtmyer is personally invested in assembling candidate pools brimming with superior applicants. With years of consulting experience, excellent vetting skills, and a devotion to helping institutions succeed, he scours his growing network to recruit the best possible candidates. Once presented to a search committee, Dr. Richtmyer finds gratification in knowing any person the institution selects is an excellent choice.
An Ann Arbor, MI, native, Dr. Richtmyer earned his bachelor’s degree and doctorate, both in history, from The Ohio State University and Minnesota, respectively.
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
