25-year higher education leader to guide innovative consulting and search initiatives

Washington, D.C. – July 10, 2017 – Melissa K. Trotta, Ed.D., has been named associate managing principal of the Washington D.C.-based higher education search firm, AGB Search. AGB Search is the only firm that specializes in all aspects of higher education executive search.

In making the announcement, Dr. Rod Mc Davis, managing principal of AGB Search, said that Trotta’s extensive experience in higher education administration and search adds a critical level of leadership to the rapidly growing firm. “We are excited to have Melissa on board.” McDavis noted. “She will not only provide clients with professional engagement guidance, but she will also assist in directing the firm’s implementation of our strategic plan and innovative search-driven technology initiatives.”

Trotta has spent 25 years in higher education administrative leadership roles at institutions including Harvard University, Georgetown University, and Johns Hopkins University. She is a seasoned administrator in the fields of admissions and enrollment, program management, executive education, and strategic planning.  She was most recently a vice president at Boston-based Neumann Executive Search Partners.

“I am excited to be part of AGB Search,” said Trotta. “The firm’s reputation for leadership searches in all areas of higher education is well-known and respected throughout the country. I look forward to working with Dr. McDavis and the entire AGB Search staff.”

Trotta holds a bachelor of arts degree in communications (Phi Beta Kappa) and a master of arts in higher education administration from Boston College. She earned a doctorate in higher education management from the University of Pennsylvania, where her dissertation research focused on building the administrative leadership pipeline on college and university campuses. Trotta serves on the alumni board of the Executive Doctorate Program at Penn’s Graduate School of Education.

AGB Search, based in Washington, D.C., is the only firm that specializes in all aspects of higher education executive search. The firm identifies and vets exceptional candidates, helping to build effective, diverse leadership teams. Founded by the Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges in 2010, AGB Search has an unparalleled commitment to professionalism and quality. With a dedication to service and deep roots in the industry, AGB Search discovers what makes each institution unique and presents the best candidates for each position. www.agbsearch.com.
 

Partnership will focus on executive searches for professional, continuing, and online education.

WASHINGTON, D.C. – June 28, 2017 – AGB Search, the only firm that specializes in all aspects of higher education executive search, has partnered with UPCEA, the leading association for professional, continuing, and online education, to provide executive search services for higher education institutions, units, and programs serving nontraditional student populations. 

From declining enrollments to changing student demands, today’s shifting higher education landscape presents many challenges to institutions. Although enrollments at U.S. colleges and universities have been declining since 2012, online enrollment overall continues to trend upward, with 5.8 million students enrolled in at least one online course in 2014. The pressure to stay on top of trends and skills in today’s ever-changing, technology-driven economy is spurring enrollments, with job goals or transition to a new career as a primary motivator. To remain competitive, institutions must effectively serve adult and nontraditional learners, who now constitute up to 85 percent of American college students. Professional, continuing, and online education units are on the front lines, helping this population to balance the competing demands of work, family, and education. 

As this aspect of higher education evolves, institutional leadership has to be well-versed in growing and managing sustainable continuing and online education programs. The need for leaders experienced in this space led to UPCEA’s exclusive partnership with AGB Search. Through the partnership, institutions seeking to fill high-level leadership positions in professional, continuing, and online education units will be paired with AGB Search consultants and veterans of the field whose guidance will help searchers identify and hire the best candidate for the institution and role. 

“Having a leader who can implement an effective strategy for reaching nontraditional students will soon make a difference in institutional survival,” said Bob Hansen, CEO of UPCEA. “I’m pleased that through our partnership with AGB Search, institutions will have access to seasoned search consultants to help fill these strategic leadership roles.”

The AGB Search team will be joined by search consultants Mary McIntire, Ph.D. and Thomas Kowalik, Ph.D., past UPCEA members and highly-regarded leaders in the professional, continuing, and online education field. McIntire most recently served as Dean of the Glasscock School of Continuing Studies at Rice University. During her tenure at Rice, enrollments increased from hundreds per year to nearly 20,000, and courses have attracted students from more than 100 countries. Kowalik has more than 30 years of leadership experience in adult and continuing education. Previously at Binghamton University (SUNY), he was founding director of the University’s campus-wide Continuing Education and Outreach unit, which grew to serve more than 11,000 graduate, undergraduate, and noncredit students annually. With their decades of expertise in the field, McIntire and Kowalik are adept at identifying the unique skills and attributes necessary for leading today’s innovative and entrepreneurial units. 

“Together, AGB Search and UPCEA will help to strengthen the online, continuing, and professional education space by identifying leaders with high quality, relevant expertise,” said Rod McDavis, Managing Principal of AGB Search. “We are proud to be at the forefront of higher education leadership in the 21st century.” 

About AGB Search
AGB Search, based in Washington, D.C., is the only firm that specializes in all aspects of higher education executive search. The firm identifies and vets exceptional candidates, helping to build effective, diverse leadership teams. Founded by the Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges in 2010, AGB Search has an unparalleled commitment to professionalism and quality. With a dedication to service and deep roots in the industry, AGB Search discovers what makes each institution unique and presents the best candidates for each position. www.agbsearch.com. 

About UPCEA
UPCEA is the association for leaders in professional, continuing, and online education. Founded in 1915, UCPEA membership includes most of the leading public and private colleges and universities in North America. For more than 100 years, the association has served its members with innovative conferences and specialty seminars, research and benchmarking information, professional networking opportunities, and timely publications. Based in Washington, D.C., UPCEA also builds greater awareness of the vital link between contemporary learners and public policy issues. Learn more at www.upcea.edu. 

Contact:
UPCEA
Molly Nelson 
202-400-2676
mnelson@upcea.edu

AGB Search
Marissa Cormier
202-766-0832
mec@agbsearch.com