Executive coaching is designed in a way that benefits both the leader and the institution. Therefore, Academic Search believes executive coaching should be approached from a systems perspective and in the context in which the leader is leading.
We believe that leadership is learned through ongoing practice, reflection, action and assessment. Thus, leadership always occurs in a particular context, leads to action, and has an impact to be evaluated.
Leading colleges and universities today is both noble and daunting work. We created our Executive Coaching Practice based on this philosophy so that presidents and senior leaders have professional and qualified leadership companions and guides on the leadership journey. We are committed to the effectiveness, sustainability and well-being of new and incumbent presidents and senior leaders. We believe that both the interiority of leaders and the exterior demands of institutional leadership are complementary.
LEADER-FIRST APPROACH
THOUGHT LEADERSHIP
MEET OUR SENIOR EXECUTIVE COACHES
Linda M. Bleicken
Senior Executive Coach
Linda.Bleicken@academicsearch.org
Following nearly 30 years of university leadership experience, Dr. Linda M. Bleicken most recently served as president of the American Academic Leadership Institute (AALI) from 2017–2022. Dr. Bleicken joined AALI after serving as President of Armstrong State University in Savannah, GA from July 2009 until her retirement in June 2017. Dr. Bleicken previously served as Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs at Georgia Southern University. At Georgia Southern, she also served as the Vice President for Student Affairs and Enrollment Management, Associate Provost, and Associate Dean of the College of Business Administration.
Her tenure as President of AALI was marked by an increase in the number of participants in the three programs offered jointly with the American Association of State Colleges and Universities and the Council of Independent Colleges. In addition, a new program, Mastering the Presidential Search Process, was created in 2019 in collaboration with Academic Search. Each program was distinguished by the high level of care and mentorship extended to each participant.
Throughout the years, the role of mentor and coach has been central to Dr. Bleicken’s professional career, and most recently culminated in her work at AALI where she had the honor to work personally with hundreds of higher education administrators from both independent and public colleges and universities.
Dr. Bleicken earned an undergraduate degree in marketing and a master of science degree from Georgia State University. She holds a Ph.D. in organizational behavior, also conferred by Georgia State.
EXECUTIVE COACHING OFFERINGS
Whether a seasoned president or new to an executive role, our Executive Coaching Process is designed to customize and optimize your experience to advance your leadership and institutional goals.
We offer executive coaching to individual seasoned leaders, individual new or transitioning leaders, and cabinet and senior leadership teams, as well as assessment debriefs.
To learn more, please fill out our form to contact our Practice Leader.
“I absolutely believe that people, unless coached, never reach their maximum capabilities.”
“Coaches are your external eyes and ears, providing a more accurate picture of your reality. So, “It’s not just how good you are now, it’s how good you’re going to be that really matters.”
“A sense of purpose provides an ongoing capacity to generate possibilities… and to find the values that make risk-taking meaningful.”
1250 Connecticut Avenue NW, Suite 700 Washington, DC 20036-2657
Phone: 202-332-4049
Fax: 202-234- 7640
