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Dr. Kolenbrander

Harold Kolenbrander joined Academic Search in 2001 after serving as interim president of Alma College. He came to wider notice in higher education through his 14-year presidency (1986-2000) of Mount Union College. During it, Mount Union increased its enrollment from 1,000 to 2,200 students and its endowment from $25 million to $130 million. U.S. News and World Report now ranks Mount Union in the top tier of regional liberal arts colleges.

Kolenbrander came to Mount Union after having served as provost of Central College in Iowa from 1975 to 1986. Earlier in his career he was dean of college planning at Grand Valley State University and a member of the chemistry department at Central College, his alma mater, advancing to chair of the department.

At Academic Search, the qualities that worked so well in his presidencies—tenacity, common sense, the long view—have availed in a string of successful searches, most of them for presidencies of liberal arts colleges.  Kolenbrander brings to clients a strong network of colleagues and admirers that has provided good service in recruiting and vetting potential candidates.
 
Fellow presidents elected Dr. Kolenbrander to chair the board of the Council of Independent Colleges and to the board of directors of the National Association of Independent Colleges and Universities. Dr. Kolenbrander serves on the Board of Trustees at his alma mater, Central College in Iowa, and is an honorary trustee at Mount Union College where he also holds the title of President Emeritus.

He was awarded the Ph.D. in biochemistry from the University of Iowa in 1964.