Search Committee Selects Academic Search of Washington D.C

HUNTINGTON, W.Va. – Marshall University’s presidential search committee selected Academic Search Consultation Service of Washington, D.C., to aid the university in its search for a new leader, committee co-chairman A. Michael Perry announced today.

Academic Search, along with two other consulting firms, met Monday with the search committee in Marshall’s Memorial Student Center. Korn/Ferry International of Washington, D.C., Baker/Parker and Associates, Inc., of Atlanta, and Academic Search each made a one-hour presentation to the committee, trying to sell their service.

“We were fortunate that while we were interviewing a number of outstanding search firms, we were dealing with wonderful individuals who potentially would be in charge of the search on our behalf,” Perry said. “But we were particularly impressed with the individual from Academic Search, Dr. John DiBiaggio, because of his academic background. He, himself, has been a university president at a number of institutions, and he has been the dean of a medical school.”

DiBiaggio, President Emeritus for Academic Search, represented that company when it did its presentation Monday at Marshall. DiBiaggio is a former president at Tufts University, Michigan State University and the University of Connecticut. He also served as vice president for health affairs and executive director of the Medical Center at the University of Connecticut, as dean of the Dental School at Virginia Commonwealth University, and as assistant dean of the Dental School at the University of Kentucky.

DiBiaggio also holds three earned degrees and 13 honorary degrees.

“We just felt strongly that he has the ability to help us attract the right person to Marshall University, the person that will lead us into the bright future that we foresee, ” Perry said.

Academic Search has served numerous state-assisted colleges and universities in recent years. Some of those are Ball State University, Eastern Kentucky University, Kent State University, Michigan State University, the University of Alabama, the University of Louisville, the University of Toledo, the University of Connecticut and Youngstown State University.

In 2004, Academic Search completed 37 presidential searches. According to Ann Die Hasselmo, the firm’s managing director, 83 percent of all presidents appointed in the past 10 years with Academic Search’s assistance are still in office, and 87 percent remain in office after six years.

Marshall has been led by Interim President Michael J. Farrell since Jan. 1, when he officially took over for Dan Angel, who retired effective Dec. 31. The search for a new president is expected to take at least six months. 

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