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
Edward J. Valeau
Senior Executive Coach
Ed.Valeau@academicsearch.org
Dr. Edward J. Valeau is a highly experienced higher education executive with a career spanning over 38 years in community colleges. He served as Superintendent/President of the Hartnell Community College District in Salinas, CA, from 1995 to 2007, becoming the first African American to hold this position in the college’s century-long history. Dr. Valeau also made history as the first African American to serve as President and Dean of Instruction at the College of Alameda in the Peralta Community College District in Oakland, CA.
Throughout his career, Dr. Valeau has demonstrated expertise in various areas, including leadership, budgeting, program development and evaluation, grant writing, and organizational management. He has held administrative roles at Canada Community College, Skyline College, College of Alameda, and Hartnell Community College District, serving as President and Superintendent/President, among other positions. He also worked as an ACE Fellow at De Anza College.
During his tenure as Superintendent/President at Hartnell, Dr. Valeau led a period of renaissance for the district. His leadership efforts solidified the college’s identity as a Hispanic Serving Institution and resulted in continuous enrollment growth, academic success, and vocational achievements. He played a crucial role in developing a 10-year Educational and Facilities Masterplan, securing a community-backed bond of $131 million for the construction of state-of-the-art buildings and learning facilities.
Beyond his administrative work, Dr. Valeau has served on numerous public and private boards, including the American Association of Community Colleges, where he held the position of Chair for two national commissions. He has also founded and led several consulting companies, contributed to scholarly publications, and authored books on topics such as international education, leadership, and mentoring.
Dr. Valeau holds a doctorate from the University of California Berkeley School of Education, a master’s from California State University, Hayward, and a Bachelor of Science in English from Southern University. He has received prestigious awards and honors for his leadership, including the Harry Buttimer Award for Outstanding Leadership as a CEO in California Community Colleges.
Outside of his professional pursuits, Dr. Valeau is an international photographer who enjoys golfing, playing the Djembe Drum, and traveling with his wife, Vera Valeau. They reside in the San Francisco Bay Area.
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
