ACCT’s team is comprised of seasoned professionals and nationally recognized experts committed to exemplary governance.
Narcisa Polonio, Ed.D.
Vice President for Research,
Education and Board Leadership Services
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Office:(202) 775-4670 | Mobile: (202) 276-1983
Dr. Polonio attended Foothill Community College, CA, holds a B.A. in History from San Jose State University, CA, an M.A. from Stanford University, CA, and an Ed.D. from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst. Additionally, she served for six years as a member of the College of St. Elizabeth Board of Regents.[ Top ]
Laurie Savona, Ed.D.
Operations Officer for Search Services
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Office: (202) 775-4474 | Mobile: (202) 595-4300
Julie Golder Alion, J.D.
Search Services Coordinator
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Office: (202) 775-4466 | Mobile: (202) 384-5816
Ms. Golder is responsible for coordinating reference reports, has assisted with dozens of searches throughout the country; served as a Law Clerk for the Senate Finance Committee, and studied China’s legal system in Shanghai. She received a BA in Communications from the University of Central Florida and a J.D. at the University of Montana’s School of Law.[ Top ]
John Steinecke
Search Services Specialist
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Office: (202) 775-4468 | Mobile (202) 384-6539
Mr. Steinecke was appointed by the Governor of Maryland to the Board of Trustees of Prince George’s Community College, Largo, and MD in July 2002 and served until August 2010. Mr. Steinecke received a Bachelor of Arts degree in English Literature from Middlebury College, VT. [ Top ]
Keyshia Crawford Jimerson, M.Ed.
Board Program Specialist
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Office: (202) 775-6484 | Mobile (202) 420-1597
Ms. Jimerson is responsible for assisting with search and interim services, conducting governing board research, writing proposals, and maintaining the ACCT search website. Previous to ACCT, she worked as an implementation specialist and trainer for an international software company, and has over ten years of experience in corporate, secondary and post-secondary education.
She received a Master of Education in Higher Education Administration from North Carolina State University and Bachelor of Science in Business Administration- Marketing from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.[ Top ]
Search Consultants
Marie Kane, Ph.D.
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Phone: (830) 832-6793
Her community service has included service on the California Community College CEO Board, the Rancho Cucamonga Chamber of Commerce Board, and the board of the National Institute for Leadership Development.
Dr. Kane has been recognized as a Woman of Distinction for the 63rd Assembly District, the CEO of the Year for the Pacific/Western Region by the Association of Community College Trustees, the Mildred Bulpitt Woman of the Year by the American Association of Women in Community Colleges, and the Distinguished Alumna of the Year by the Arizona State University College of Education.
Dr. Kane received a BA in Mathematics from the University of Texas, a MS in Mathematics from Lamar University, and a Ph.D. in Mathematics Education from Arizona State University.[ Top ]
Pamila Fisher, Ed.D.
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Phone: (406) 570-0516
Dr. Fisher’s career spans over 30 years with the Yosemite Community College District: starting in 1974 as an instructor, to serving as Chancellor for 12 years. Dr. Fisher has held multiple higher education leadership positions on a national level, including Chair of the Board of Director for the AACC, board membership for the American Council on Education: Commission on Women in Higher Education, the AACC Commission on International/Intercultural Relations, the ACCT/AACC Joint Commission on Federal Relations, and the AACC Commission on Minority Resources. Dr. Fisher is Past President of the American Association of Women in Community Colleges.
Dr. Fisher, very active in higher education at the statewide level, is Founder and Director of the Asilomar Leadership Development Project, which boasts more than 20 college presidents as past alumnae.
Past President of the California Association of Community Colleges; and membership on the Task Force on the Education Code Revision, the California Community College Trustees’ Advisory Committee on Educational Services, and the ACCCA Management Development Commission.
Dr. Fisher attended Modesto Junior College where she earned an AA degree. She also holds a BS and a MA from California State University, Stanislaus, and received an Ed.D. from the University of the Pacific.
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Linda Spink, Ph.D.
ACCT Search Consultant
Dr. Linda Spink has 42 years in higher education leadership experience. For 14 years, she served as community college president, first in a single college district and the last 10 years at LA Harbor College, in the Los Angeles Community College district. Dr. Spink has a broad background in both teaching and administration.
She holds a Ph.D. in Administration of Higher Education from Boston College, and a Master of Science degree from Boston University in Psychiatric Nursing. Dr. Spink taught nursing for fourteen years, in two-year and four-year college/university settings, both public and private before going into administration in 1984. Dr. Spink currently serves as an adjunct instructor for NOVA Southeastern University, teaching online courses for the community college leadership minor.[ Top ]
Pat Kier, Ed.D.
ACCT Search Consultant
Dr. Patricia Keir recently served seven years as Chancellor of the Eastern Iowa Community College District. Prior to that position, she served as President of San Diego Miramar College, Executive Vice President of Lansing Community College in Michigan, and in a number of administrative positions at the College of DuPage in Illinois. Dr. Keir has served on the AACC Board and on the ACCT Presidents' Advisory Committee, in addition to a number of national and state task forces, committees, and local non-profit Boards and workforce development organizations.
Currently Dr. Keir is a full-time faculty member in the University of Maryland University College Doctoral Program in Management Community College Leadership Program, where she both coordinates and teaches community college professional seeking a doctorate. She has served on a number of accreditation teams in California and is very familiar with the Higher Learning Commission Accreditation processes and Board involvement in both PEAQ and AQIP.[ Top ]
Rita Cavin, Ph.D.
ACCT Search Consultant
Dr. Rita Cavin, a community college educator for over 38 years retired as President Emerita of Linn-Benton Community College at the end of 2009. Her professional career began in California where she served as Vice President of Instruction at Mt. San Antonio College from 1997 to 2003 and as Vice President of Instruction at Citrus College from 1992 to 1997. She began her community college career as a faculty member at Rio Hondo College.
Dr. Cavin holds a Ph.D. in higher education administration from Claremont Graduate University, a master’s degree in Library Science from Immaculate Heart College in Los Angeles, a master’s and bachelor’s degree in English from University of Redlands, and an associate’sdegree from Riverside City College.[ Top ]
