Scott Flanagan
Senior Consultant and Senior Executive Coach
Scott.Flanagan@academicsearch.org
Scott Flanagan brings nearly three decades of accomplished leadership experience to his work assisting colleges and universities. He has rapidly built a reputation for being a trusted campus partner, successfully engaging in searches at nearly every cabinet level position along with the presidency and a number of roles in academic leadership. In addition to his work in search, Flanagan assists senior leaders and governing boards as a consultant and coach.
Flanagan served as President at Edgewood College from 2014-19 following sixteen years of service to the College at the Cabinet level in areas including enrollment, athletics, advancement, marketing, strategic planning, finance, and inclusion. During his presidency, Edgewood College sustained record-high graduation rates, achieved record levels of major giving (including the largest estate pledge in school history), reduced time to degree completion, accomplished record levels of racial and ethnic diversity, grew the endowment and increased net assets, and received honors for its work in a number of areas (institutional quality, access and success of underrepresented populations, civic engagement, and environmental stewardship).
A respected colleague among his presidential peers, Flanagan served in a number of different roles in higher education leadership. He was elected for a three-year term on the Board of Directors for the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities (NAICU), including one as chair of the Accountability Committee. He was chosen to serve as President of the Northern Athletics Collegiate Conference (NACC), an NCAA Division III conference. In addition, Flanagan served as a member of the Executive Committee and chair for the Dominican Higher Education Consortium, the nationwide association of Dominican colleges and universities. Closer to home, Flanagan has served the local community as a board member and officer for the Oregon School District and the Urban League of Greater Madison, respectively.
Flanagan holds a doctorate in Higher Education Management from the University of Pennsylvania, where his dissertation was recognized with distinction. He earned an M.B.A. from the University of Saint Francis (IN) and is a Phi Beta Kappa graduate from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with an undergraduate degree in political science.
