Thomas C. Shandley
Senior Consultant
Thomas.Shandley@academicsearch.org
Dr. Thomas C. Shandley’s more than four decades in higher education leadership roles at private and public institutions lay the foundation of his work as a senior consultant. He understands the influence of excellent leadership on an institution and how it affects the students, employees, and community. His contributions at Academic Search continue to fulfill his mission of helping schools operate at their highest levels by hiring the best leaders to provide the best education possible for students.
Before joining the firm in October 2017, Dr. Shandley served as Davidson College’s Vice President for Student Life and Dean of Students for 23 years. He was also the Dean of Student Affairs at Rhodes College, giving him nearly three decades of experience in private liberal arts institutions. Dr. Shandley played a vital role at both schools in hiring decisions, strategic planning, and leadership development in various student affairs and academic functions.
Dr. Shandley also spent time in large public university settings, as he held positions in student affairs at the University of South Carolina and the University of Minnesota. Additionally, he has an insider’s understanding of the needs of faculty, as he served on the adjunct faculty in higher education at the University of Memphis and taught in the Graduate College of Education at Appalachian State University. Dr. Shandley has a complex understanding of higher education governance and a sharp eye for talented professionals that, when placed in the correct positions at the right institution, can help everyone thrive.
Dr. Shandley’s reputation as a renowned leader in student affairs has expanded internationally. As a longtime member of the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators, he was the Vice President for Region III, which includes the southeastern United States, Mexico, the Caribbean, parts of Africa, East Asia, and the Middle East. Dr. Shandley also organized the first-ever NASPA Institute for Senior Student Affairs Officers held outside the United States—at the University of Salamanca in Salamanca, Spain. Additionally, he was part of a national delegation of student affairs leaders selected to attend the inaugural International Conference on Student Affairs at Fudan University in Shanghai, China, and he was the interim Dean of Student Affairs at Duke Kunshan University in Kunshan, China.
These varied experiences both domestically and abroad have helped him maintain a vast network of higher education professionals and the ability to understand the particular leadership needs of an institution. Understanding the leadership expectations of a position is gained through thoughtful and deliberate conversations with multiple constituents, and Dr. Shandley brings strong communication and analytical skills to develop a position profile that is most apt to attract qualified candidates. He is diligent about providing a diverse pool of applicants that are uniquely prepared for a leadership role in every search he facilitates.
