Bringing Experience and Perspective to Presidential Search

Members of the Witt/Kieffer Education Leadership Council (ELC) are former college and university presidents who understand the enormous responsibility facing boards and search committees as they select a new leader. ELC members provide expert counsel from the perspective of the experienced leader to help colleges, universities and not-for-profit institutions identify and develop presidential leadership. They advise trustees on a wide range of issues such as administration, faculty and student involvement in presidential searches; identification and evaluation of candidates and successful transfer of leadership.

Additionally, members serve as “of Counsel” to the firm’s higher education and not-for-profit practice to identify future challenges and trends in higher education administration and governance.

Thomas H. Jackson, J.D., served as president of the University of Rochester, NY from 1994 to 2005 and formerly served as vice president and provost of the University of Virginia and dean of the University of Virginia School of Law in Charlottesville.

Jeanne H. Neff, D.A., served as president of the Sage Colleges, Albany and Troy, NY from 1995 to 2008. In that role, Dr. Neff led strategic organizational and academic program development, including the addition of doctoral degrees.

Edward A. Nicholson, Ph.D., served as president of Robert Morris University, Pittsburgh, PA from 1989 to 2005. During his 40-year career in higher education, he has held faculty and administrative appointments at five universities.