WittKieffer Welcomes New Principal and Seven Senior Advisors to Expand Leadership Advisory Solutions in Higher Education
August 08 2024 - 10:14AM
WittKieffer, the premier executive search and leadership advisory
firm improving quality of life through impactful leadership,
announced today the expansion of its Leadership Advisory solutions
to enhance support for presidents and other senior leaders in
higher education. Cathy Dove, Ed.D. and seven former college and
university presidents have joined WittKieffer to help leaders
navigate the complex and ever-evolving academic landscape. They
will join WittKieffer’s Melody Rose, Ph.D., Principal in both the
Education and Leadership markets, in providing vital consulting
services for presidential transitions, leadership coaching, team
alignment, and board advisory support.
“As former presidents themselves, Melody, Cathy, and the Senior
Advisors understand the unique challenges and opportunities that
leaders in higher education face. They bring a contemporary
perspective and tailored advice to accelerate and amplify the
impact of presidents as well as their cabinets and boards,” said
Susan Snyder, Executive Partner, Leadership Advisory. “With their
extensive knowledge of higher education realities today, they will
be instrumental in helping WittKieffer's clients navigate the
complex and ever-changing world of academia.”Dove, who joins
WittKieffer as a Principal, has more than 30 years of experience in
higher education leadership. She has served as the president of
Paul Smith’s College in New York and has held significant
leadership roles in academic and administrative organizations. Her
expertise in strategic planning and consulting, leadership
coaching, finances, communications, fundraising, and board
governance will be invaluable to WittKieffer's clients. Along with
Dove, the seven Senior Advisors bring a diverse range of
backgrounds and experiences, including expertise in academic
affairs, board relations, diversity and inclusion, intercollegiate
athletics, recruitment and retention, shared governance, strategic
planning and student affairs.
WittKieffer’s Senior Advisors are:
- Ray Crossman, Ph.D., retiring president of Adler University and
among the longest-serving presidents in higher education.
- Bob Davies, Ph.D., president of Central Michigan University
(retiring at the end of 2024).
- Pamela Fox, Ph.D., president of Mary Baldwin University for 20
years; she led the transformation of a small women’s liberal arts
college into a coeducational university.
- Pamela Gunter-Smith, Ph.D., the fourth president of York
College for more than 10 years; she served as the first woman and
person of color to hold the appointment.
- Elsa Núñez, Ed.D., the first Latina to head a university in New
England; she served as the president of Eastern Connecticut State
University for nearly two decades.
- Rebecca Sherrick, Ph.D., president of Aurora University for
more than 20 years.
- Lori Varlotta, Ph.D., the first female president in the history
of both California Lutheran University and Hiram College.
"Cathy Dove and our new team of Senior Advisors will
significantly enhance our leadership solutions for higher education
and the impact on our university clients," said Zach Smith, Ph.D.,
WittKieffer Executive Partner and Market Leader, Education.
"Together, they have wisdom gleaned from more than 200 years of
experience. Importantly, they served recently, bringing insight to
the realities university leaders are currently facing. They have
served at a variety of institutional types and walked different
paths on their way to the presidency, reflecting both personal and
professional diversity. Their deep understanding and diverse
perspectives of the higher education landscape are a true
differentiator in the market. At a time when higher education
leaders face persistent, multiple challenges, WittKieffer stands
ready to support them.”
About WittKieffer
WittKieffer is the premier executive search and leadership
advisory firm developing impactful leadership teams for
organizations that improve quality of life. We work exclusively
with organizations in not-for-profit and for-profit healthcare,
life sciences, and education – the “Quality of Life Ecosystem.”
Leveraging our unwavering focus on this complex ecosystem, we help
clients solve challenging problems through executive search,
interim leadership and leadership advisory services. We strengthen
organizations that make the world better.
Visit wittkieffer.com to learn more.
Paul Thomas
WittKieffer
6306325797
pthomas@wittkieffer.com