Strategic advisory for higher education leaders.
I partner with deans, provosts, and presidents at the moments that define their tenures, and their institutions. I bring trusted strategic counsel and hands-on support that creates clarity, builds momentum, and advances what matters most. I believe colleges and universities have good bones. The commitment to rigorous inquiry, to pushing the bounds of human knowledge, to the lingering conversation on the quad or in the classroom that changes how someone sees the world - all of these things are worth protecting. But not by doing everything. By having the clarity and courage to do a few things exceptionally well.
Services
I work with leaders and institutions across a range of moments — from leadership transitions and strategic challenges to organizational change and on-demand project support.
01
A sustained advisory partnership for deans, provosts, and presidents entering a new role or navigating significant institutional change. I help you assess your team, clarify priorities, strengthen communications, and stay focused on what matters most, so you can lead with confidence and build something lasting.
02
Just-in-time, time-limited, high-impact support for institutions that need to move forward when internal capacity is stretched. Whether shepherding complex working groups, launching a new initiative, or providing short-term leadership continuity, I deliver the strategic bandwidth to get critical work done, without the overhead or risk of a permanent hire.
03
A faster, sharper, more honest approach to institutional strategy. I help leadership teams build focused, action-oriented plans on 18–36 month timeframes, grounded in honest conversation about what to prioritize, what to set aside, and what to do next. Less kitchen sink, more forward motion.
04
A rigorous, candid assessment of how a team, unit, or division is functioning — and what needs to change. I give leaders clear findings, a detailed roadmap, and a credible path forward.
About
I founded August Advisory after 20+ years working in higher education. I believe in what higher education, at its best, can do for people and for society. But I've also seen how the potential can go unrealized — not for lack of will, but for lack of focus.
I know what it looks like when everything is urgent and nothing is anchored. I know how it feels to those on the inside, and how it looks to those on the outside.
August Advisory exists for leaders who want to go deep on a few things that actually matter.
My career spans MIT, the University of Chicago, the UNC System, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and Huron Consulting. I have worked alongside leaders who have gone on to lead some of the country's most prominent universities, and advised institutions at pivotal moments. I bring that experience, and a genuine belief in what's possible, to every engagement.
Contact
If you're navigating a consequential moment — or know someone who is — I'd welcome a conversation.