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The Dartmouth
July 22, 2025 | Latest Issue
The Dartmouth

Parker Executive to assist in search for new athletic director

05.21.10.sports.AD
05.21.10.sports.AD

The Atlanta-based firm has over 25 years of hiring experience and recently oversaw the search for the new president of the National Collegiate Athletic Association. Parker Executive Search has also led athletic director searches for the University of Notre Dame, Texas Christian University and Emory University in recent years, according to a College press release.

The College settled on Parker Executive Search "after careful analysis," Spears said in an interview with The Dartmouth.

"We decided that this firm would be the best decision," she said. "We thought that [Parker] had substantial depth in conducting high-level profile searches, as well as significant strengths in athletic-related searches."

According to Spears, College officials hope the firm will be able to marshal a strong group of applicants from which to select a new Athletic Director.

"The first step is for them to come here and understand what we are looking for," Spears said. "Then, they will establish a strong pool of applicants based on our feel."

Once Parker Executive Search assembles a list of applicants, a College-led search committee will begin evaluating individual applicants, according to Spears.

"It is consistent with Dartmouth practice to have a search committee in place, as they understand the specific needs and interest of the community," she said. "Once the firm has given us a pool, the committee will do selection processes and interviews and see whether the candidates are a match for us."

Spears said administrators hope to appoint a new athletic director before Fall term begins.

"You certainly never know what is going to happen within the course of a search, but it's my hope that we will . . . be very busy over the next few weeks and have some news before we start the Fall," she said.

The athletic director position opened following the retirement of then-Director Josie Harper in 2009 a position in which she served for seven years. Bob Ceplikas '78 was appointed to fill the position as acting athletic director in July.

While the search for Harper's replacement was slated to begin in January, Spears and College President Jim Yong Kim opted to forestall the search due to the spate of recent budget cuts and in hopes of building a stronger applicant pool.Ceplikas will hold his position until a new athletic director is hired.