“One of the most important ways an institution can facilitate having alumni who are engaged, loyal and generous is by helping them have profoundly positive experiences as undergrads.”

Jay Lemons

In this episode of The Beacon Podcast, Jeff Jowdy and Jay Lemons, president of Academic Search, discuss fundraising in higher education and the importance of maintaining relationships when fundraising. Jay shares:

• What university fundraising professionals can do every day to nurture relationships with the university.
• How to keep alumni connected to their alma mater.
• Trends in higher education advancement searches.

About Our Guest

Dr. L. Jay Lemons became president of Academic Search in 2017 after 25 years as a college president in both public and private institutions. A recognized leader in the academy, Lemons has been devoted to supporting leadership talent among new college presidents on the faculty of the new presidents’ programs of the American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU), the Council of Independent Colleges (CIC) and through the professional development programs for aspiring leaders of the American Academic Leadership Institute (AALI). This passion for helping new and emerging leaders to build their teams and institutions led him to the presidency of Academic Search.

Dr. Lemons served as chancellor of the University of Virginia’s College at Wise prior to becoming president of Susquehanna University in Selinsgrove, Pennsylvania. Both institutions experienced highly generative periods of growth and development under his leadership. He understands academic institutions and the leadership needed to propel them into the future.

Earlier in his career, Lemons served in a variety of roles at the University of Virginia, Texas A & M University, the University of Nebraska and Nebraska Wesleyan University – thus deepening his knowledge of the complex array of positions and leadership talent needed for institutions to be successful in a rapidly changing world.

Lemons has served in key leadership positions in many national, state and local organizations. He is the immediate past vice chair and acting chair of the National College Athletic Association’s (NCAA) Board of Governors. Lemons also chaired the NCAA Division III President’s Council, the Council of Presidents of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America, Pennsylvania Campus Compact, the Association of Independent Colleges and Universities of Pennsylvania, and the Greater Susquehanna Valley Chamber of Commerce. He has also served on committees or boards of the American Council on Education, the American Association of State Colleges and Universities, the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities and the Council of Independent Colleges. He brings these broad contacts and his deep knowledge of public and private higher education to executive search.

Follow Academic Search: @ASI_ExecSearch

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