leadership search for higher education

Spelman Johnson is a premier executive search firm exclusively committed to serving higher education.

Spelman Johnson is a premier executive search firm exclusively committed to serving higher education.

Recruiting talented leaders on behalf of the institutions we serve, our success is strengthened by our deep and diverse relationships and our investment in the development and engagement of a leadership pipeline. Since 1991, we’ve helped hundreds of higher education institutions identify outstanding professionals, pairing exceptional leaders with positions across all facets of the academy. Spelman Johnson is nationally recognized for our thought leadership on issues of equity and diversity and for our commitment to inclusion in higher education.

during our twenty-seven year history, Spelman Johnson has cultivated and supported a diverse, national network of professionals of color within higher education.

The relationships we establish in the course of our work

with multi-cultural professional groups and associations are part of an overall corporate commitment to the advancement of underrepresented professionals within higher education. Our placements show our strong commitment to the advancement of underrepresented persons within the field of higher education.

54%

of our searches have been completed with the hire of a woman

26%

of our positions hired have been persons of color

62%

of the women we have placed throughout our history remain in their positions or have been promoted to higher positions within the client institution

68%

of the persons of color remain in their positions or have been promoted within the client institution

News and Resources

Head Football Coaches: Five Keys to a Successful Hire

11/6/2018 | Dell Robinson

Football can be a high profile sport on a campus and a successful football program contributes to the engagement of students and alumni with the institution, attracts academically qualified recruits, and supports school spirit. When the time comes to hire a new head football coach there are five key points to consider. The search must… Continue reading >

CoSIDA’s Commitment To Diversity And Inclusion

11/12/2018
Rob Knox — Associate Director of Media Relations, Towson University and CoSIDA's 64th President

“I think that these young women, if we really care about them as people, that they will have role models that look like them. Because they are going to play four years for whomever, and then they get an opportunity to go in this world, and they are not going to find anybody that looked… Continue reading >

The Nuances of a Network

11/5/2018 | J. Scott Derrick

My favorite part of being a Search Associate with Spelman Johnson is definitely the cascade of colorful characters and amazing professionals that I meet every day along the way. While I am surrounded by a most incredible group of people within our firm, each position search also brings another batch of new friends, confidants, and… Continue reading >