Vice President & Managing Director, GA&A and Kelly
Office: 850-337-1525
Cell: 850-598-0063
susannegriffin@greenwoodsearch.com
As vice president and managing director for GA&A, Susanne oversees financial management of the firm, supervision and development of consultants and team members and organization of systems and operations. She brings a wealth of administrative expertise garnered through a successful career in K-12 leadership. She joins GA&A from service as chief academic officer of the Minneapolis (MN) Public Schools where she designed and implemented academic priorities to maximize the capacity of the system to provide excellent learning environments for the approximately 34,000 students in the district. Previously, in service to the approximately 24,000 students in the Bibb County Public Schools in Macon, GA, she was acting superintendent and deputy superintended of School Improvement and Redesign. In this latter role, she led the design and implementation of a district-wide strategic planning process and the development of a school redesign program to maximize the district's student learning success. Other executive roles include multiple leadership posts within the Rochester (MN) Public Schools, including executive director of School Improvement and Accountability, principal at Franklin/Montessori at Franklin Elementary Schools, principal at Churchill/Hoover Elementary Schools, interim director of Special Education and Speech/Language pathologist. She also served as an educational consultant with the Cochlear Impact Program of the Mayo Clinic in Rochester.
Susanne's leadership includes service as board chair for the Child Care Resource and Referral Network (CCRR) and co-chair of the Campaign Steering Committee for the Joint Building Venture between CCRR and Rochester (MN) Boys' and Girls' Club. She was also a board member for the Rochester Area Foundation - First Steps and for the Rochester Diversity Council. She has been involved with the Communities in Schools Council of Champions, Macon Promise Neighborhoods Advisory Council and Minnesota Department of Education Desegregation and Integration Task Force. Internationally, she has served as a team leader with Global Action Youth Summer Camps held in Ukraine, Moldova and India.
Susanne holds a B.S. from the University of Wisconsin-River Falls and an M.S. degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She completed additional licensure coursework at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities. She holds licenses and certificates as a district superintendent, a school principal and a speech/language pathologist in Minnesota. She has completed training to be a Leaf Level Certified Trainer in Fierce Conversations. She has been trained at Harvard University through the Public Education Leadership Project and DataWise. Other training includes Courageous Conversations, Professional Learning Communities, Positive Behavior Intervention and Support, Response to Intervention and Crisis Prevention and Intervention.
Vice President of Executive Search
Office: 850-650-2277
Cell: 301-332-1167
bobcaret@greenwoodsearch.com
Robert L. Caret is chancellor emeritus of the University System of Maryland (USM). He joined the USM as chancellor on July 1, 2015, was officially inaugurated as its fourth chancellor on November 19, 2015, and stepped down on January 5, 2020. Dr. Caret’s extensive networks and deep understanding of the issues related to higher education make him an excellent advisor and resource to institutions hiring their next executive leader.
While Dr. Caret was chancellor at USM, the system increased enrollment to more than 176,000 students and awarded more than 42,000 degrees—including 75 percent or more of Maryland’s bachelor’s degrees--per year. During his tenure, USM also expanded its role as an economic engine for the state of Maryland and continued to build its reputation for academic and research excellence. USM institutions, faculty, students, and graduates attracted more than $1.4 billion in federal and privately funded research dollars in FY 2018.
Before joining USM as chancellor, Dr. Caret was president of the University of Massachusetts System (UMass) from 2011 until 2015, president of Towson University (TU) from 2003 to 2011, and president of San Jose State University (SJSU) from 1995 to 2003. He also served as a faculty member, dean, executive vice president, and provost during his more than 25-year tenure at Towson. Dr. Caret’s accomplishments include but are not limited to creating positive and productive partnerships with government, business, non-profit, and civic organizations; raising student graduation rates; emphasizing efficiency and cost saving initiatives; and completing a capital fundraising and building campaign to support campus infrastructure improvements.
Active in the national higher education community, Dr. Caret recently served as chair of both the National Association of System Heads and the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities Board of Directors. He also has recently served on the board of Business-Higher Education Forum, Southern Regional Higher Education Board, Higher Ed for Higher Standards Board of Advisors, and the Government University Industry Research Roundtable.
Dr. Caret holds a Ph.D. in organic chemistry from the University of New Hampshire and a B.S. in chemistry from Suffolk University in Boston.
Vice President of Executive Search
Office: 850-650-2277
Cell: 850-869-9986
jeremyduff@greenwoodsearch.com
As vice president of executive search, Jeremy Duff brings the knowledge and experience of leading hundreds of high-profile executive level searches in the U.S. and worldwide in the private and public sectors.
Prior to joining Greenwood Asher & Associates, Jeremy served as managing director for the University of Virginia’s Executive Search Group in the President’s Office. In this role, he led executive and leadership searches for the 12 Schools, Health System, Foundations, and Business Units across the university. He also led the creation of the University of Virginia’s Talent Recruitment operation through a university-wide HR transformation while overseeing a team of search consultants, the budget, and the branding efforts.
In addition, Jeremy served as principal with one of the largest executive search firms in the world, DHR International. While overseeing the entire Washington, DC office, he led successful executive searches worldwide for the C-level suite across numerous industries. While at DHR, he won the outstanding performer award six consecutive years.
Early in his career, Jeremy lobbied for the American Academy of Pediatrics in Washington, DC on a wide range of pediatric issues and was a member on the United States Presidential Advance team. With a keen interest in helping others, he also served as president of the board for a non-profit organization for homeless and mentally ill women, Open Arms Housing.
Jeremy attended Culver Academies and earned a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Dayton.
Vice President of Executive Search
Office: 850-650-2277
Cell: 850-867-8911
jimjohnsen@greenwoodsearch.com
As vice president of executive search, Jim serves Greenwood Asher & Associates (GA&A) and its clients by developing strong partnerships informed by his distinguished background in, and passion for, leadership in higher education, business, and government.
Prior to joining GA&A, Jim served as a senior fellow at the National Association of System Heads (NASH), lecturer in the School of Management at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, commissioner for the Western Interstate Commission on Higher Education, and Alaska representative to the State Higher Education Executive Officers.
At NASH, Jim co-developed a transformation agenda for public university systems and was the founding director of its Systems Center for State Policy. Jim continues to contribute to scholarship in higher education through his role as affiliate faculty at the University of California Berkeley and as editor of the forthcoming volume Realizing the Promise: The Future of America’s Public University Systems to be published in 2023 by the Johns Hopkins University Press.
Prior to his role at NASH, Jim was president of the University of Alaska system where he led: resolution of a severe budget crisis; creation of an innovative vision for the university as of 2040; setting system level goals and measures tied to the state’s needs; resolution of systemic Title IX issues on the campuses; the first statewide philanthropy campaign; creation of the framework for resolving the university land-grant deficit; and elevation of faculty, staff, and students in system governance. His previous roles include leadership positions at Alaska Communications, Inc.; Doyon, Limited; the University of Alaska; the University of Minnesota; and the State of Alaska.
In addition to his work with GA&A, Jim serves on the advisory boards of the McPherson Eye Research Institute at the University of Wisconsin, Madison and the Executive Doctorate program at the University of Pennsylvania.
Jim obtained an Ed.D. in higher education management from the University of Pennsylvania; an M.A. in political science from the University of Chicago; and a B.A. in politics from the University of California, Santa Cruz.
Vice President of Executive Search
Office: 850-650-2277
Cell: 850-869-9996
traceyweldon@greenwoodsearch.com
Dr. Tracey Weldon’s varied experiences in higher education prepare her to be a skilled and insightful executive search partner for clients. Serving as both a search manager and trusted guide, Tracey expertly leads search teams to deliver excellent results.
As a quantitative sociolinguist, Tracey specializes in American English, with a particular focus on African American language varieties. She joined the UofSC faculty in 2000, after having spent the previous five years as a faculty member at North Carolina State University. At UofSC, she held a joint appointment in the English Department and the Linguistics Program, where she taught both undergraduate and graduate courses in linguistics. Tracey was an associate producer of “Talking Black in America,” a 2017 documentary produced by the Language & Life Project at North Carolina State University. Her book on Middle Class African American English was published by Cambridge University Press in 2021. And she currently serves as an executive editor and advisory board member for the Oxford Dictionary of African American English.
In her administrative capacity, Tracey served as associate dean for diversity, interdisciplinary programs, and social sciences in the College of Arts and Sciences. As the inaugural diversity officer in the College of Arts and Sciences and one of the original members and co-chairs of UofSC’s Council of Academic Diversity Officers (CADO), she played an integral role in building the diversity infrastructure for the University. Tracey also served in the Office of the Provost as interim chief diversity officer, where she helped draft the diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) goals of the University’s Strategic Plan, For South Carolina: A Path to Excellence. And she served as the inaugural chair of the University’s Black Faculty Caucus.
Tracey’s most recent administrative role in higher education was as dean of the Graduate School and vice provost for Graduate Education at the University of South Carolina. She was initially appointed to this role in an interim capacity and later selected to fill the permanent position. Tracey brought prior experience to this role as the graduate director of Linguistics, as well as experience serving on UofSC’s Graduate Council and a Blue-Ribbon Committee focused on graduate student life. In addition, she participated in the University’s Pipeline for Academy Leaders program and the SEC Academic Leadership Development program.
As graduate dean, Tracey was instrumental in acquiring full health care subsidies for Ph.D. students and graduate assistants at UofSC. And, pursuant to the goals of the University’s strategic plan, she worked actively with Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) across the state of South Carolina on a partnership to increase diversity within UofSC’s graduate student population.
Tracey received her B.A. in French and English from Furman University and her Ph.D. in Linguistics from The Ohio State University.
