Your Pathway to Success

The Executive Search Team

Executive Search Services maintains a full-time team to assist with all aspects of the president, provost, and vice president search process.

ACCT’s team is comprised of seasoned professionals and nationally recognized experts committed to exemplary governance.

Narcisa Polonio, Ed.D.

Executive Vice President for Research,
Education and Board Leadership Services

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Office:(202) 775-4670 | Mobile: (202) 276-1983

Dr. Polonio is responsible for coordinating all of ACCT's direct services to executive leaders and governing boards. She has over 35 years of experience working with community colleges including service as a community college president and as a board member.

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 as a member of the College of St. Elizabeth Board of Regents for six years.{rt}

Laurie Savona, Ed.D.

Operations Officer, Search Services

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Office: (202) 775-4474 | Mobile: (202) 595-4300

Ms. Savona is responsible for operations management of Board Leadership Services. Previously Special Assistant to the Senior Vice President of American Council on Education (ACE), Laurie has 8 years of experience as the Executive Assistant to the President/Compliance Officer for Suffolk County Community College in Long Island, NY and also served as the City Clerk for the City of Portland, Maine. She earned her doctorate degree in Higher Education Management at the University of Pennsylvania, an M.P.A. from University of Maine, and a B.A. in Economics from Stony Brook University in New York.{rt}

Julie Golder Alion, J.D.

Search Services Coordinator

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Office: (202) 775-4466 | Mobile: (202) 384-5816

Ms. Golder coordinates 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 J.D. from the University of Montana’s School of Law, and a B.A. in Communications from the University of Central Florida.{rt}

John Steinecke

Search Services Specialist

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Office: (202) 775-4468 | Mobile (202) 384-6539

Mr. Steinecke provides search service assistance to boards of trustees, and came to ACCT from The Search Group, LLC, in Columbia, MD, as a recruiting manager. He has over 15 years of experience providing consultative executive search services to businesses in the Washington/Baltimore area.

Mr. Steinecke was appointed by the Governor of Maryland to the Board of Trustees of Prince George’s Community College, Largo, MD in July 2002 and served until August 2010. Mr. Steinecke received a B.A. degree in English Literature from Middlebury College, VT. {rt}

Search Consultants

Marie Kane, Ph.D.

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Phone: (830) 832-6793

Dr. Kane retired in July 2007 after more than six years as Superintendent/ President of Chaffey College in Rancho Cucamonga, CA. During her tenure, the district passed a $230 million facilities bond, completed more than 20 facilities projects, including eight new buildings, and acquired land for and began construction on a second campus. Prior to coming to Chaffey College, Dr. Kane served as the President of Phoenix College, AZ, Provost of the Norco Campus of Riverside Community College, CA, and Dean of Instructional Services at San Joaquin Delta College, CA.

Her community service has included membership 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 B.A. in Mathematics from the University of Texas, a M.S. in Mathematics from Lamar University, and a Ph.D. in Mathematics Education from Arizona State University.{rt}

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.{rt}

Pat Kier, Ed.D.

ACCT Search Consultant

Dr. Patricia Keir recently served seven years as Chancellor of the Eastern Iowa Community College District. She previously served as President of San Diego Miramar College, Executive Vice President of Lansing Community College, MI, and in a number of administrative positions at the College of DuPage, IL. 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.

She is currently 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 professionals 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.{rt}

Rita Cavin, Ph.D.

ACCT Search Consultant

Dr. Cavin, a community college educator for over 38 years retired as President Emerita of Linn-Benton Community College, OR 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, CA.

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, CA and an associate’s degree from Riverside City College, CA.{rt}