Academic Search Leader Ann Die Hasselmo Honored by the Council of Independent Colleges

At the Council of Independent Colleges (CIC) 2024 Presidents Institute, Dr. Ann Die Hasselmo was honored with the Allen P. Splete Award for Outstanding Service, which recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions to independent higher education. Dr. Hasselmo’s receipt of this award is a reflection of her unwavering dedication and the profound impact she has had in this sector.

When presenting Dr. Hasselmo with the award, Dr. Marjorie Hass, President of CIC, shared, “Ann is an inspiration to so many of us. I’m very proud to call her a friend, a role model, a mentor. And I just couldn’t be prouder that we’re able to honor Ann.”

A luminary in the field, Dr. Hasselmo’s journey in higher education is marked by notable achievements. Her nine-year tenure as President of Hendrix College in Arkansas and her various leadership roles in educational organizations, including serving as Chair of the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities, Chair of the Presidents Council for Division III of the National Collegiate Athletic Association, a member of the Executive Committee of the NCAA, and on the Board of Directors of the National Merit Scholarship Corporation and the Foundation for Independent Higher Education, underscore her commitment to enhancing the landscape of higher education.

Before her presidency at Hendrix, Dr. Hasselmo was Dean of H. Sophie Newcomb Memorial College and Associate Provost at Tulane University. Prior to joining Tulane, she served at Lamar University as president of the faculty senate and was selected as a Regents Professor of Psychology. During this time in her career, she was also an ACE Fellow and spent a year at the College of William and Mary working with the president and provost.

After serving Hendrix College, Dr. Hasselmo went on to become Managing Director of Academic Search Consultation Service (ASCS) in 2002 and then President of the American Academic Leadership Institute (AALI), Academic Search’s parent organization. She stepped down as President of AALI in 2014 and has been serving as a Senior Consultant with Academic Search since. In all these roles, she has leveraged her profound understanding of institutional needs and leadership qualities to instrumentally shape the careers of numerous education administrators. Her ability to identify potential and foster growth in others has made her a respected figure in the education sector.

During her presidency of AALI, Dr. Hasselmo reaffirmed Academic Search’s commitment to higher education by establishing partnerships with CIC and the American Association of State Colleges and Universities, which led to the creation of three of its programs, the Executive Leadership Academy, Becoming a Provost Academy, and Senior Leadership Academy. Between 2010-14, Dr. Hasselmo guided 172 higher education leaders from 39 different states through these three academies, with 58% of the participants hailing from private institutions. The programs have since assisted more than 900 individuals.

On top of the AALI academies, Dr. Hasselmo held separate weeklong renewal retreats for presidents and provosts as well as summer seminars for Academic Search new presidential placements. She facilitated case studies in the presidency at both the AASCU and CIC presidential meetings and hosted president-trustee dialogues which were conducted regionally on campuses.

“Ann has been so monumental in shaping leaders across the academy,” says L. Jay Lemons, President of Academic Search. “Throughout her career, Ann has consistently shown her dedication to higher education, and we have been so fortunate to have her leadership here at Academic Search, where she has performed hundreds of successful executive searches over the years.”

Dr. Hasselmo’s journey in higher education, marked by her strategic leadership and deep commitment to the growth and development of institutions and individuals alike, makes her a deserving recipient of the 2024 CIC Allen P. Splete Award for Outstanding Service. Her legacy continues to inspire and shape the future of higher education and we are honored by her dedicated service as a part of the Academic Search team.