Academic Search January 2023 Newsletter

January 2023

Celebrating the Life and Legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr.

As our campuses celebrate the Martin Luther King, Jr. holiday, we are reminded of his moving and hopeful words, “The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.”

In a world filled with far too much hatred, bigotry, anger, and injustice, may we all be fortified with the optimism of Dr. King, to work toward the celebration of difference, equality, inclusion, and justice for all.

We are honored to support our institutional partners in their work to be among those who bend the arc. The acts of each individual make a difference, but collectively, we have the best opportunity to truly bend the arc toward justice.

In our latest episode of Leaders on Leadership, Dr. Gary Crosby opens up about his path to the presidency. Raised by his grandmother, Crosby reflects on how his experience as a first-generation student guides his decision-making and his draw to institutions like Saint Elizabeth University where he currently serves as the first Black, male president.

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We are pleased to welcome Dr. Javier Cevallos as the newest President of our parent organization, the American Academic Leadership Institute.

Cevallos, who is originally from Puerto Rico, has a storied history in academia. He holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez and earned his master’s and doctoral degrees both from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

He most recently served as President of Framingham University, and prior to that, held roles at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and Kutztown University of Pennsylvania.

You can learn more about Cevallos' deep commitment to the academy in his feature on our Leaders on Leadership Podcast with host Dr. Jay Lemons.

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Upcoming Leadership Development Opportunities

Prepare for success through one of the American Academic Leadership Institute's signature programs designed for leaders in higher education.

Mastering the Presidential Search Process

Senior executive leaders currently holding a position of Dean or higher at any two-year or four-year institution are invited to apply to this two-day, hands-on program held March 27-28 in Washington, D.C., and features presentations by several members of the Academic Search team.

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Executive Leadership Academy

This year-long program is offered to individuals from member institutions of AASCU and CIC who are currently serving in cabinet-level positions. Participants will prepare to become successful presidents and chancellors through the development of leadership skills in higher education.

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Becoming a Provost Academy

This leadership program is tailored to the distinctive needs of aspiring provosts (chief academic officers) at institutions belonging to AASCU. The yearlong program, featuring seminars, readings, group projects, and mentorship, provides comprehensive preparation in the areas of most critical concern to provosts.

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Senior Leadership Academy

This yearlong program is designed for mid-level administrators at institutions belonging to CIC who aspire to senior leadership positions. Participants will broaden their understanding of the higher education ecosystem and the full range of leadership roles needed for institutional success.

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Conferences and Presentations

Texas Academic Leadership Academy:

On January 5, Senior Consultants Dr. Pamela M. Balch and Dr. Mahauganee D. Shaw virtually presented for the Texas Academic Leadership Academy fellows on the content and purpose of a prospectus as well as interviewing sample questions.

Council of Independent Colleges Presidents Institute:

More than a dozen members from Academic Search and AALI attended the Presidents Institute in San Francisco, January 4-7. We are proud to partner with and support CIC and enjoyed the great conversations with presidents and their spouses and partners from across the country who joined us at the event.

The Presidents Institute offers us not only a time to connect with fellow leaders in higher education but to also learn and think critically about the challenges presidents face through listening to speakers and participating in meetings and design thinking sessions. Our own Executive Coaching Practice Leader Dr. Steven E. Titus facilitated a roundtable discussion titled Sustaining Presidents & Institutions Through Executive Coaching.

HERS Next Stages Next Steps:

January 12-14, Maya Ranchod Kirkhope, Dr. Cynthia M. Patters on, and Dr. Maria Thompson helped facilitate the Next Stages Next Steps workshop, designed for women pursuing executive-level leadership roles. Our senior consultants work alongside HERS staff to prepare participants for executive search. Next Stages Next Steps participants identify positions that align with their personal goals, missions, strengths, and professional aspirations, and develop materials for the senior-level administrative search process.