Jerry Israel
Senior Consultant
Jerry.Israel@academicsearch.org
Dr. Jerry Israel’s extensive higher education experience was earned in executive positions, an array of administrative posts, and as a teacher and student. A university president, historian, department chair, dean, author, evaluator, and fundraiser, the expertise Dr. Israel honed throughout the years makes him one of the most prolific senior consultants in academic recruiting.
The Bronx native joined Academic Search in July 2014 and has been instrumental in the placement of strong candidates at every level. Coming from a working-class family, Dr. Israel is dedicated to helping first-generation college students enrich their lives through education. He believes recruiting top-tier candidates to help institutions reach their full potential is crucial to accomplishing that mission.
Dr. Israel candidly shares his expertise and strategy philosophies, and he is undaunted by challenging circumstances or unconventional searches. His vast network allows him to recommend and endorse potential candidates quickly, and he makes himself available to guide executives through critical transition and planning periods. Though every search opportunity motivates him, he has developed a particular affinity for healthcare-related searches.
Dr. Israel served as a university President for more than a decade at Morningside College (1993-98) and the University of Indianapolis (1998-2005). As UIndy’s seventh President, Jerry successfully spearheaded the institution’s first comprehensive fundraising campaign and increased the University’s national presence. Under his leadership, the University raised more than $100 million supported by eight-figure grants from the Lilly Endowment and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, which introduced flourishing Centers of Excellence in teacher education and healthcare. UIndy’s enrollment doubled during his tenure.
As Morningside College’s President, Dr. Israel inherited a set of issues stemming from NCAA violations. Motivated to improve the school’s standing, Dr. Israel led Morningside through an overhaul. With his guidance, the Iowa college resolved its NCAA compliance issues, advanced its enrollment and fundraising opportunities, and regained its prestige.
Dr. Israel earned a bachelor’s from New York University; a master’s from the University of Michigan; a Ph.D. in history from Rutgers University; and attended the Harvard University Institute of Educational Management. He served as chair of the history department and was the academic dean at Illinois Wesleyan University, was Simpson College’s vice president and dean, and held faculty positions at Northern Illinois University, the University of Texas at El Paso, and the University of Pittsburgh. Jerry is especially well-versed in the accreditation process, having spent more than a decade as a peer evaluator for the Higher Learning Commission.
