University of Nebraska President Hank Bounds said July 14 that he has selected leading executive search firm Isaacson, Miller to assist in the national search for the next chancellor of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. Current Chancellor Harvey Perlman has announced his plans to step down in 2016 after leading UNL through an era of significant growth and progress.
Bounds said he selected Isaacson, Miller following a competitive process that included written proposals from highly reputable search firms that responded to a letter of inquiry from the university. Bounds conducted interviews with a select group of the firms before choosing Isaacson, Miller.
Isaacson, Miller partnered with the university in its recent successful searches for the president and University of Nebraska Medical Center chancellor.
“The team at Isaacson, Miller has developed a keen knowledge of and appreciation for Nebraska and its public university. They have an excellent national reputation and a demonstrated record of attracting talented people for senior leadership positions in higher education,” Bounds said. “I’m excited to work with Isaacson, Miller on this critical search for the university. I am confident the team will be a tremendous asset in finding the right person who can build on UNL’s impressive momentum.”
Isaacson, Miller, with offices in Boston, Washington, D.C., and San Francisco, has assisted numerous other public and private universities in leadership searches, including the universities of California, Illinois and Washington. The principal consultant on the UNL search will be David Bellshaw, vice president and director and the managing partner of the firm’s California office. Bellshaw also served as principal consultant for the presidential and UNMC chancellor searches.
Isaacson, Miller will work with a search advisory committee, yet to be named by Bounds, to identify, recruit and screen potential candidates prior to the identification of no fewer than four finalists who will participate in public forums and university visits that will provide opportunities for faculty, students, key constituents and members of the public to meet the individuals and offer feedback.
The appointment of the next chancellor will be made by the president, subject to approval by the Board of Regents.
Isaacson, Miller’s standard fee is one-third of the total compensation paid to the hired candidate for his or her first year of employment. However, given the firm’s relationship with the University of Nebraska, Isaacson, Miller has agreed to a flat fee of $110,000 for the chancellor search, plus reimbursement for direct expenses such as travel, lodging and meals associated with the interviewing process, and 11 percent of the professional fee for indirect expenses related to the support of the search committee process, creation and distribution of search materials, candidate communication, and internal research and administration.
