Alan S. Cureton
Senior Consultant
Al.Cureton@academicsearch.org
Dr. Alan S. Cureton joined the Academic Search senior consulting team a year after retiring from the presidency of Northwestern University – St. Paul. During his efficacious 20 years as UNW’s president, Dr. Cureton oversaw tremendous growth in academic excellence and fiscal health while holding firmly to Northwestern’s Christ-centered foundation. As a highly sought-after advisor for various higher education topics, Dr. Cureton now lends his expert knowledge and experience to Academic Search and its partner institutions.
Dr. Cureton pursued a Christian education degree in his undergraduate studies while starring on the football team at Sterling College in Kansas. In his four-year career with the Warriors, Dr. Cureton started every game and earned all-conference honors. Dr. Cureton views his role in education similarly to his time on the gridiron: as a lineman, he aimed to create pathways for others to succeed. Likewise, as an educator and administrator, Dr. Cureton’s purpose was to do the same, and he hopes to continue that mission as a senior consultant.
Under Dr. Cureton’s leadership, Northwestern – St. Paul saw a nearly 40-percent increase in total enrollment, plus the addition of several undergraduate degrees and the re-establishment of Graduate Studies at Northwestern. In addition, five major buildings were completed in the Cureton era, including a media center, performance hall, student life center, and more. In the fall of 2014, NWU completed Reynolds Field, a sprawling athletic complex with six tennis courts, baseball and softball fields, and a football/soccer/lacrosse field. Dr. Cureton was also president when Northwestern welcomed the addition of the Wilson Center for the School of Nursing, a new residence hall (Akenson Hall), and Rosedale Square for the School of Engineering. These significant expansions and improvements highlight Dr. Cureton’s proficiency in strategic and financial planning.
Dr. Cureton’s expertise in various areas of higher education makes him a popular keynote and conference speaker, particularly for student affairs and advancement conferences for commissions of the Council of Christian Colleges and Universities (CCCU). He has been a featured speaker at engagements in South Korea, Malawi, Kenya, South Africa, Mongolia, and Northern Ireland. Dr. Cureton was also president of Northwestern Media, a media ministry of the University of Northwestern – St. Paul. The media ministry reaches more than a million listeners weekly—on the air and worldwide over the Internet—through 23 radio stations that offer encouraging and uplifting music, biblical teaching, and dynamic listener engagement.
As a senior consultant, Dr. Cureton looks forward to applying his years of experience in a new realm of higher education. By using his vast network and building meaningful relationships with search committee members and administrations, Dr. Cureton is confident he can help institutions recruit and hire outstanding candidates who will lead colleges and universities to success.
