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Sherlene Parsons

Senior Consultant

Sherlene Parsons serves as Senior Consultant leading search execution, candidate development, client engagement, insight, and vetting of candidates on behalf of client institutions. She has broad-based knowledge of higher education having served with another leading executive search firm and having served in a series of administrative roles at Howard University. 

Prior to joining Harris Search Associates, Sherlene served as Senior Associate and Internal Recruitment Manager at Isaacson Miller, a leading higher education executive search firm.

As Internal Recruitment Manager, she partnered with senior firm leadership and oversaw the internal search and recruitment process lifecycle, advancing the firm’s commitment to equity, diversity, and inclusion across a broad range of internal and external searches. As Senior Associate, Sherlene partnered with a number of higher education and nonprofit organizations to recruit their senior leadership (Presidents, Vice Presidents, Chief Executive Officers, Chief Operation Officers, Executive Directors, Deans, and senior administrators) ensuring diverse candidate slates for each assignment.

Notable clients have included: NAACP Legal Defense Fund, United Negro College Fund, The Ohio State University, National Health Law Program, FRAC (Food Research & Action Center), University of Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania State University, Amherst College, Greater Richmond Partnership, National Architecture Accreditation Board, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, and the American Bar Association.

Prior to joining Isaacson Miller, she served in a number of senior administrative roles at Howard University, including as Project Manager in the Office of Academic Searches where she led the academic search operations and specialized executive searches in the portfolio of the Office of the Provost and the Office of the President. Searches included numerous executive cabinet and decanal level searches— where she oversaw all dimensions of the search administration, implementation of the primary executive search process, best practices, and development of guidelines still currently utilized throughout the University.

A dual Canadian-American citizen, fluent in French, Sherlene holds Bachelor of Art from Concordia University, and Master of Science from Fordham University. She is also a proud member of the Phi Kappa Phi honor society and the Network of Executive Women (NEW).

Sherlene Parsons
Harris Search Associates - an IIC Partners member firm, is a leading global higher education executive search and board advisory consulting firm with 44 offices in 33 countries worldwide. Our higher education executive search practice is focused on identifying and attracting leaders to support the growth of clients in the areas of research, science, engineering, academic medicine, and healthcare enterprises. Clients include the foremost universities, research parks, institutes, academic medical centers, and healthcare organizations driving global innovation and discovery.