Leadership Appointments

Leaders Found

AGB Search focuses solely on higher education executive search. We have conducted 1,370 successful searches ranging from small private colleges to large public institutions and systems. Our deep knowledge of the industry and ability to identify the best candidates for our clients make us the firm of choice in higher ed.

Leadership Appointments

Dakota Wesleyan University
President
Dr. Daniel R. Kittle
Close

Dakota Wesleyan University has appointed Dr. Daniel R. Kittle as it’s 21st president. Dr. Kittle will assume the presidency of DWU in March 202. He currently serves as the Vice President for Student Life and Dean of Students at Wartburg College. Dr. Kittle earned a B.S. in public relations and political science from Heidelberg University, an M.A. in political science and a Ph.D. in higher, adult, learning and education from Michigan State University (MSU). In 2009, Dr. Kittle completed the Foundations of Christian Leadership program through Duke University. Read more here.

Nov 30, 2021
Hawai‘i Pacific University
Dean, College of Business
Dr. Mark Rosenbaum
Close

Hawai‘i Pacific University has selected Dr. Mark Rosenbaum as the next dean of the HPU College of Business. Dr. Rosenbaum currently serves as dean and professor of marketing with the Graham School of Management at Saint Xavier University in Chicago. Previously, Dr. Rosenbaum was chair and professor of the Department of Retailing at the University of South Carolina, the Kohl's Professor of Marketing at Northern Illinois University, and an assistant professor in the Department of Marketing at the University of Hawai‘i at Manoa. Rosenbaum is a two-time Fulbright Scholar and Fulbright Specialist, a research fellow at Arizona State University’s W.P. Carey School of Business, a visiting professor of marketing at Universidad de Externado in Bogota, Colombia, and the American Hotel Academy in Brasov, Romania. He earned his Ph.D. from Arizona State University, master’s degrees from San Diego State University, New York University University of Illinois at Chicago, and bachelor’s degree from Indiana University. Read more here. 

Nov 22, 2021
Eastern Kentucky University
Dean of the College of Justice, Safety & Military Science
Dr. Derek J. Paulsen
Close

Eastern Kentucky University has appointed Dr. Derek J. Paulsen as the Dean of the College of Justice, Safety & Military Science.  Dr Paulsen is also Professor of Criminal Justice and has over twenty publications including three books. He has served as the Commissioner of Planning, Preservation and Development for the City of Lexington, Kentucky for seven years. He begins his new position immediately, having served as the Interim Dean. Read more here.

Nov 15, 2021
Rutgers University Business School
Associate Dean for Advancement
Ms. Kristin DiFoglio
Close

The Rutgers University Business School has appointed Ms. Kristin DiFoglio as its new Associate Dean for Advancement.  Ms. DiFoglio previusly served as Senior Director of Development for the Tepper School of Business at Carnegie Mellon University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Prior to this, she served as Executive Director of JDRF International (Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation), Assistant Vice President for National Strategic Fundraising Partnerships for the American Lung Association, and Interim Development Director of the Jersey Coast Chapter for the American Red Cross. Ms. DiFolgio has also held various sales leadership roles at major investment banks including ING Barings, Merrill Lynch, Bankers Trust, and Parallax Group. Ms. DiFoglio holds an M.P.A. in nonprofit management from New York University and a B.S. in industrial management from Carnegie Mellon University.

Nov 15, 2021
Howard Community College
President
Dr. Daria Willis
Close

Howard Community College has appointed Dr. Daria Willis as the fifth president of the college. Dr. Willis currently serves as president of Everett Community College in Washington. She will become the first African American to lead Howard Community College. Dr. Willis's presidency begins on January 10, 2022, succeeding Dr. Kate Hetherington, who retired after 14 years as president. Prior to her presidency, Dr. Willis was the provost and senior vice president of academic affairs at Onondaga Community College of the State University of New York. Other leadership positions include dean of academic studies at Lee College in Baytown, Texas; executive dean of centers/dean of instruction at Lone Star College-North Harris Greenspoint Center and Victory Center, Texas; and department chair of social and behavioral sciences and kinesiology at Lone Star College-University Park Campus and the Faculty Senate president. Dr. Willis earned her Ph.D. in history from Florida State University; her master’s degree in history and bachelor’s degree in history education from Florida A&M University, a historically Black college in Florida. Read more here.

Nov 9, 2021
Wilkes University
Vice President of Finance and Chief Operating Officer
Ms. Ellen Gallagher
Close

Wilkes University has named Ms. Ellen Gallagher as the new Vice President of Finance and Chief Operating Officer. She will assume the role in February, 2022. Ms. Gallagher has nearly 30 years of experience as a financial leader in the nonprofit sector. Since 2011, she has served as the senior vice president and chief financial officer of the American Museum of Natural History in New York City. Throughout her career, she has held positions at The Public Theater and New York Shakespeare Festival, the Lincoln Center Redevelopment Corporation, the Tucker Music Foundation and the Pennsylvania Ballet. A native of northeast Pennsylvania, she has degrees from Wyoming Seminary, King’s College, Villanova University and the University of Notre Dame.

Nov 3, 2021
University of Alaska Anchorage
Executive Director of Shared Services
Mr. Justin Atteberry
Close

The University of Alaska Anchorage has appointed Mr. Justin Atteberry as Executive Director of Shared Services. Mr. Atteberry comes to UAA from the Southcentral Foundation in Anchorage where his tenure spans nearly 20 years and currently serves as Senior Director of Operations. At UAA, Mr. Atteberry will oversee the University’s financial, travel, procurement, human resources, and research administration activities. Reporting directly to the Vice Chancellor for Administrative Services, Mr. Atteberry will be responsible for overall leadership of a complex and mission-critical organization, including planning and goal setting, operational planning, personnel and financial management, establishment of the unit’s norms and culture, and inter-departmental relationships. Mr. Atteberry holds an M.B.A. in Operational and Personal Management and a B.A. in Economics from Pacific Lutheran University. 

Oct 29, 2021
Cornell University
Associate Vice President for Inclusion and Belonging
Ms. Sonia Rucker
Close

Cornell University has appointed Ms. Sonia Rucker as the associate vice president of the Department of Inclusion and Belonging and the staff representative on the Presidential Advisors on Diversity and Equity. She most recently served as vice president of equity, access and behavioral health and the dean of students at Southeast Missouri State University (SEMO). Prior to moving to SEMO, Rucker worked at Cornell for nine years. Read more here.

Oct 20, 2021
Guilford College
President
Dr. Kyle Farmbry
Close

Dr. Kyle Farmbry joins Guilford College as their 10th president effective January 1st, 2022. Dr. Farmbry currently serves as a Professor of Public Administration in the School of Public Affairs and Administration at Rutgers University, where he previously served as Dean of the Graduate School.  Dr. Farmbry holds a bachelor's degree in International Affairs, a master's in Public Administration, and a Doctorate of Philosophy in Public Administration from the George Washington University. In 2013, Farmbry earned his Juris Doctorate from the Rutgers University School of Law. His training includes having served as an American Council on Education (ACE) Fellow at the University of Pretoria in Pretoria, South Africa, a Fullbright Research Scholar in Malta, and a Fullbright New Century Scholar in Cape Town, South Africa. Dr. Farmbry was elected a Fellow of The National Academy of Public Administration in 2021.  Read more here.

Oct 6, 2021