Regents hire firm to help with U of A presidential search

The Arizona Board of Regents has hired an executive search firm to begin the national hunt for the University of Arizona’s next president.

The regents chose SP&A Executive Search to assist the previously announced search advisory committee — made up of faculty, staff and community members — to find the university’s 23rd president.

“Hiring this firm is the next step in the search process,” ABOR Chair Cecilia Mata said in a written statement. “The firm has a long history of excellence in conducting searches for university presidents, including (Northern Arizona University) President Cruz Rivera just three years ago.”

Current UA President Robert C. Robbins announced he will step down by June 2026. The university is operating in a $162 million deficit but is expected to decrease it to $52 million next year, officials have said.

Though the hiring was announced by ABOR, the UA is footing the bill for the firm, which stands at $275,000.

SP&A Executive Search is also responsible for the UA’s provost search, which is currently down to two candidates.

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According to ABOR, the firm is a “boutique woman- and minority-owned executive search firm specializing in and exclusively dedicated to serving the higher education and non-profit sectors.”

The firm’s website states that it draws on “broad networks and proactively recruits accomplished candidates who may not be looking for new positions as well as candidates with strong ties to the client institution.”

The UA’s presidential advisory search committee met for the first time last week and was told the process should “move fast.”

Besides the UA provost and presidential search, SP&A Executive Search is also working to find a president for California State University Fullerton and a chancellor for University of California Los Angeles, among others.