AGB Announces Establishment of Search Consulting Business

April 29, 2010 -- Washington, D.C. -- The Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges (AGB) announces the establishment of a new higher education search consulting business, AGB Search. AGB Search, which will launch during the summer of 2010, will focus on searches for CEOs and other senior leaders at colleges, universities, and institutionally related foundations. At its April board meeting, the AGB board approved this initiative and named longtime higher education search consultant James Ferrare to the position of Senior Vice President and Managing Principal, AGB Search.
 
"The AGB Board firmly believes that AGB will add considerable value to the presidential search process," said James Weaver, newly elected chair of the AGB board and the board chair of Gettysburg College. "As leaders from across all sectors of higher education, AGB directors recognize how critical the selection of institutional leadership is to the future of our institutions. Getting the search right is essential. As the policy-making board for AGB, we support this initiative fully."

Ferrare, who has led more than 80 successful searches for public and private institutions over the past nine years as immediate past-president and senior consultant for Academic Search, Inc., said "I am excited to bring my experience to AGB, and am eager to combine it with AGB’s deep work with, and service to, governing boards. I look forward to helping institutions and boards with this fundamental responsibility of selecting outstanding senior leaders."

Search is not new to AGB – this new initiative represents a resumption of search work conducted by AGB in the 1980s and 1990s. Additionally, AGB has a strong record of consulting with hundreds of higher education boards across the country on a range of issues of deep concern to leaders of governing boards.

"This initiative is consistent with AGB’s mission of service to governing boards and institutions," said AGB President Rick Legon. "We bring compelling expertise and experience to this venture; given the demands of the higher education presidency and its relationship to board work, this is a natural extension of our commitment to strengthening and supporting the work of the men and women who serve on boards across the nation."

For more information about AGB Search, contact AGB at (202) 296-8400.


Founded in 1921, the Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges (AGB) is the only national association that serves the interests and needs of academic governing boards, boards of institutionally related foundations, and campus CEOs and other senior-level campus administrators on issues related to higher education governance and leadership. AGB serves more than 1,200 institutions and 34,000 individuals. Its work advances the practice of citizen trusteeship and helps ensure the quality and success of our nation's colleges and universities. Please visit www.agb.org for more information.