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Dr. Alton

Dr. Bruce T. Alton, senior consultant, joined Academic Search in 1986 and has served over 120 searches, 100 of those for the presidency.  He was Academic Search’s managing director from 1991 to 1998, and again in 2001 to 2002.  Over the years he has worked with search committees in every type of institution, public and private, large and small, with a notable string of successful presidential searches in church-related higher education.  Dr. Alton now limits his search work to two or three clients a year.  Many of his more recent assignments have been with repeat clients, who return for his experience, diligence, and good spirit in search.   

Prior to joining Academic Search, Dr. Alton had served three years as dean and 12 years as president of Rocky Mountain College in Billings, Montana.  He is a graduate of Ohio Wesleyan University, where he later served for six years on the administrative staff. His master’s degree is from Michigan State University, his Ph.D. from The Ohio State University.

Dr. Alton is a frequent speaker on issues of search and leadership transition, and has been an invited presenter at national meetings of the American Association of State Colleges and Universities, American Council on Education, Association of American Colleges and Universities, Association of Governing Boards of Colleges and Universities, League for Innovation in the Community College, National Council of Independent Junior Colleges, Eli Lilly Foundation, and by the Harvard Graduate School of Education.

Dr. Alton has served or serves on a number of regional and national boards including Alma College, Norwest Bank, Deaconess Medical Center, Western Independent Colleges Foundation (President), Montana Independent College Association (President), Foundry United Methodist Church (Washington, D.C.), United Church Board for Homeland Ministries, and the Council for Higher Education of the United Church of Christ.