Co-founders

Meet the founders of GA&A and pioneers of the education executive search arena.

A premier firm founded by two tenured professors and university presidents.

Dr. Jan Greenwood and Dr. Betty Asher, who both served as tenured professors and university presidents, co-founded GA&A in 2004 as a full-service retained search firm.

As pioneers in the higher education executive search arena, Drs. Greenwood and Asher have been recognized by the American Council on Education as, “women who have shaped the executive search process and significantly contributed to women’s equitable representation across the leadership pipeline” as well as leaders who have shaped the “process, practices, and landscape” of executive search.

Dr. Greenwood and Dr. Asher continue to serve Greenwood Asher & Associates and their clients as senior advisors, providing continued counsel, guidance, and support regarding the higher education landscape as well as executive search.

Dr. Jan Greenwood

Co-founder and Senior Advisor

Dr. Jan Greenwood

Co-founder and Senior Advisor

Office: 850-650-2277

Jan Greenwood, Ph.D. is a pioneer in U.S. higher education and along with GA&A co-founder Dr. Betty Turner Asher, they have been awarded the American Council on Education’s Donna Shavlik Advancement of Women Award that recognizes “women who have shaped the executive search process and significantly contributed to women's equitable representation across the leadership pipeline." Also stating that "they have been critical players in moving the needle for women in higher education leadership and shaping the executive search process, practices, and landscape." Dr. Narcisa Polonio with GA&A also has received this recognition.

In addition, Jan Greenwood and Marion Frenche, senior consultant and associate vice president for GA&A, have been recognized by the Staffing Industry Analysts for the inaugural Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DE&I) Influencers; and Jan has been recognized by the American Association of State Colleges and Universities Millennium leadership program for assisting in designing and participating in programs to develop leadership that enhances diversity.

Jan was the first woman president of a public four-year and graduate institution in Virginia and was among the first to hold multiple presidencies for both public and private institutions. The library at one of these institutions is named in her honor. She was one of the earliest executive recruiters with higher education experience who focused on search and consulting in education and nonprofit organizations. She is widely recognized for her search expertise; developer of best practices; group process expertise; trusted advisor to clients and candidates; panelist and speaker providing commentary on search and leadership; and her wisdom imparted through her work, leadership development workshops, and events.

As a licensed psychologist, Jan has training and experience in group process, OB/OD, assessment, and with post-doctoral training in Tavistock group methods in the U.S. and England. These skill sets are effective in working with clients, candidates, and search committees. She earned full professor with tenure while working in universities. She prepared a chapter for Warren Bennis’s book, The Planning of Change, when he was president of the University of Cincinnati, and she was Vice Provost. Her Ph.D. is from Florida State University, and she holds a certificate from Harvard University’s Institute for Educational Management.

As a partner, director, and vice president in the Washington, D.C. and Virginia offices of two different international executive search companies, since 1992 Jan has conducted nearly a thousand searches for executives in education, health care, nonprofits, information technology, and Fortune 500 corporate boards with many of these searches at the executive level. This service gives her an unparalleled network of contacts. With Betty Asher, she co-founded Greenwood Asher & Associates in 2004 to advance the quality of leadership and improve the process of executive recruitment in education and nonprofits.

Throughout her career, Jan has prioritized service to education and communities through board leadership. Representative board service has included the Monmouth University (New Jersey) Board of Trustees (including chair of the Educational and Faculty Affairs Committee and member of the Executive Committee), American Council on Education Board of Directors (including Executive Committee member), Association of Governing Boards President’s Advisory Committee (including service on the Commission on Strengthening Presidential Leadership), American Association of State Colleges and Universities (including chair of the Policy & Purposes Committee), Southern Governors’ Association (including member of Advisory Council on International Education), Council of Presidents for Virginia Public Higher Education (including chair) and American Council on Education Executive Search Roundtable (including chair). In community service, she was the Founding President of the Long Island Sound Foundation and has served as board member for philanthropic organizations as diverse as symphony, opera, ballet, United Way, Regional Plan Association, and YWCA. She also was on the corporate board of the Aquarion Company, serving as the chair of the Environmental, Community, & Government Relations Committee and member of the Audit Committee. She was a member of the Board of Directors of Seascape and is Vice Chair of the Majestic Sun Board of Directors.

Dr. Betty Asher

Co-founder and Senior Advisor

Dr. Betty Asher

Co-founder and Senior Advisor

Office: 850-650-2277

Dr. Betty Asher was one of the first women to serve as president of a flagship institution. As a search consultant she has helmed more than 500 searches, most at the president/CEO level. Having worked up through the ranks, she understands education and organizations from the bottom to the top. She began her career in higher education as a clinical counselor and career advisor, an interest that has woven through her career. Betty worked in a department of counselor education and held various roles in the vice president for student affairs office including vice president at two institutions, University of Cincinnati and Arizona State University. Further, she was an associate vice chancellor for academic affairs at the system level. As president, her accomplishments included creating an academic plan, improving student quality, increasing funding and fundraising, and enhancing research productivity. All of this experience gives her a broad understanding of the responsibilities for college and university leaders. She also was active as president of a consulting and training services firm.

Betty has been honored in many ways. She along with GA&A co-founder Dr. Jan Greenwood, and other search colleagues have been awarded the American Council on Education’s Donna Shavlik Advancement of Women Award that recognizes “women who have shaped the executive search process and significantly contributed to women's equitable representation across the leadership pipeline. Also stating that "they have been critical players in moving the needle for women in higher education leadership and shaping the executive search process, practices, and landscape."

Examples with particular meaning for her include Eastern Kentucky University’s award of the Honorary Doctor of Laws; the city of Tempe, Arizona, naming her a “Woman of Distinction;” Arizona’s State’s diversity award; and the American College Personnel Association citing her for “Outstanding Service.” Another point of pride is the number of diverse leaders she has mentored, and the diverse placements made by GA&A.

She has given back to education, health care, and her communities through extensive service on philanthropic and corporate boards both nationally and internationally. Service examples include the National Advisory Board of Insuring Tomorrow; National Leadership, Inc.; Presidential Network on International Education of the American Council on Education; Children’s Care Hospital and School Foundation; Sioux Valley Hospital; Karl E. Mundt Foundation; Neuharth Advisory Board; North Central Association on Accreditation Teams; Golden Key National Honor Society; Phi Delta Kappa and the President’s Commission of the National Collegiate Athletic Association with service on the Restructuring Committee.

Betty earned tenure and the rank of full professor in educational psychology. She has edited more than 15 books and monographs focused on organizational development and leadership, continuous quality improvement, and environmental concerns. Her education includes an Ed.D. from the University of Cincinnati, M.A. from Western Kentucky University, and B.A. from Eastern Kentucky University. She has credentials from Harvard University’s Institute for Educational Management and Dartmouth University’s Executive Management Institute as well as graduate training in group process.