Higher Education Practice
Who do you turn to
...when the President nears retirement?
...when you want to expand your administrative team?
...when the Provost leaves?
Hiring the right talent is as critical to university planning as deciding curriculum or raising endowment funds. In today’s competitive landscape, it is imperative to hire college and university leaders who not only measure up, but who exceed performance expectations.
The most effective way to assemble a top leadership team is to partner with an outside management consultant who can lend expert advice and guidance. Since 1978, EFL Associates’ consultants have provided our clients with unmatched professionalism, uncompromising integrity and an aggressive results-orientation in executive search.
EFL Associates began our Higher Education Practice in 1999. Dr. Michael Ferrari joined us in 2003 and Dr. David Horner in 2005. Their years of experience began our Higher Education Practice in 1999. He was joined by Dr. Michael Ferrari in 2003 and Dr. David Horner in 2005. Their years of experience as university presidents provide us with an unparalleled perspective when determining what universities value in a leader, in recognizing well-suited talent, and in keeping search committees focused on the task at hand.
In 2007, to meet the growing demand, the Higher Education Practice was expanded once again with the addition of Dr. Timothy Weber and Ms. Jan Asnicar. Dr. Weber brings more than 30 years of academic leadership experience, including presidential experience, in graduate theological seminaries to his new role at EFL associates. Ms. Asnicar's background includes over 25 years of experience as an administrator and consultant in higher education institutions across the country.
Over the course of their distinguished presidential and administrative careers, this team has:
Demonstrated Success:
- Were recognized by numerous regional and national professional associations for their contributions to higher education
- Spearheaded innovative programs on their campuses in information technology and international education, including outreach and partnerships with other institutions and organizations
- Championed innovative student recruitment and marketing programs that have resulted in enrollment growth and more diverse campus communities
Led Decisively:
- Developed and implemented strategic plans resulting in the major revitalization, renewal and advancement of their institutions
- Led major financial and organizational turnarounds at selected institutions
- Maintained balanced budgets throughout their presidencies
- Chaired or served on the boards of state, regional and national higher education associations
- Gained higher education expertise
- Participated as consultants for a number of institutions in areas of organizational analysis, administrative restructuring and the reallocation of resources, integrated marketing and institutional advancement
- Worked closely with regional accrediting associations; understand the importance of institutional accountability
- Effectively dealt with legislative and government agencies regarding funding and planning matters
- Served on the NCAA President’s Commission and chaired presidents’ councils of major intercollegiate athletic conferences
- Faced issues of academic integrity, financial support, student-athlete welfare and institutional control of athletic programs
Successfully Raised Funds:
- Designed and completed comprehensive fundraising campaigns totaling over $700 million
- Initiated campaigns and raised funds for extensive facility improvements that transformed their campuses
Recruited and Developed Staff Members:
- Participated in over 200 searches for senior administrative leaders in both public and private higher education
- Mentored more than a dozen key staff members who have gone on to become college and university presidents of private and public institutions
Our Higher Education Practice uses vast resources to locate top administrators who can meet your unique needs. EFL Associates begins by assessing each institution’s organizational structure, culture and agenda, and then puts that knowledge to work. In addition to coordinating full searches for institutions, EFL Associates also offers alternative search options to meet a range of institutional needs and budgets. For example, our innovative search process, Candidate Research and Management (CRaM), has been warmly received by leaders across the country as a more affordable means of providing search assistance. This service option is unique to EFL Associates.
Our mission is to provide quality candidates in a timely manner, while establishing an ongoing professional relationship as consultant and advisor. If you are beginning a search for strategic talent, especially at the Cabinet, Dean or Executive Director level, you can be confident that we will dedicate our considerable resources to the challenge of locating the individual you are seeking.
