Patricia (Tobie) van der Vorm, Senior Consultant

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van der Vorm

Dr. Tobie van der Vorm has been a senior consultant with Academic Search, Inc. in Washington, D.C. since 1998, and has served a variety of institutions including liberal arts colleges, universities, divinity schools, art schools, technical institutions and foundations in their searches for presidents and senior administrators.

Before joining Academic Search, Dr. van der Vorm was an administrator at American University for 18 years, where she worked extensively with faculty and representatives of the corporate and public sectors to develop experiential learning and career development programs for students in the liberal arts. She began her career in higher education as an admissions officer at Hollins University in Roanoke, Virginia.

Dr. van der Vorm has presented at conferences both in the United States and abroad and been interviewed by national media on a variety of topics regarding higher education and the workforce. Her published works focus primarily on career preparation, experiential learning and management in higher education. She has served as a consultant to a number of two year and four year institutions and as a program evaluator for the U.S. Department of Education.

She recently served as chair of the Wells College board of trustees. She is also an emeriti member of the board of directors of the Association for International Practical Training, a member of the Howard University Advisory Council for career services, and a mentor and founding member of Women of Washington, Inc.  Dr. van der Vorm has a bachelor’s degree from Wells College and earned her master’s and Ph.D. degrees from American University.