Higher Education Leadership Consulting Services
Helping presidents and board chairs lead with clarity, strength, and lasting impact requires more than guidance. At Wrighton Cannon Consulting, we know institutional strategy demands a deep understanding of the unique challenges and opportunities in higher education. We partner with higher education leaders to empower them in navigating this complexity, inspiring stakeholders, and building a legacy of meaningful institutional success.
Helping academic executives lead confidently with strategic vision and agility.
Navigating the Challenges of a New University Presidency
A new presidency brings both significant opportunity and real risk, with expectations from boards and faculty at their highest at the same time your institutional knowledge is at its least.
We partner with first-time leaders to accelerate credibility, foster trust, and set the foundation for long-term success. Through presidential onboarding, early issue-framing, executive alignment, executive coaching, and strategic advice, we help ensure that new presidents lead with confidence and clarity from the very start.
Strategic Leadership for Experienced Presidents
Even the most experienced presidents face pivotal moments — whether steering major organizational change, strengthening board relationships, or leading through periods of disruption.
We provide confidential, peer-level counsel that helps leaders frame the most relevant and salient issues, review and refresh prior assumptions and perspectives underlying their leadership, and align strategy, personnel and institutional priorities for long-term success. Our services include strategic planning, leadership team development, advice on sensitive governance-executive and cabinet-level dynamics, general executive coaching, and legacy planning to ensure lasting impact.
Strengthening Governance Leadership to Advance Institutional Success
Effective boards depend on skilled, prepared chairs and vice chairs to guide strategy, oversight, and partnership with presidents.
We work with board leaders to reinforce and align governance structures with institutional goals, strengthen accountability, and ensure sound fiduciary and strategic stewardship. Our services include consulting on presidential evaluation frameworks and processes, advising on those oft-elusive “boundaries” between governance and management in the higher education setting, board policy consulting, and general advice for board leaders.
Take the Next Step in
Advancing Your Leadership.
Whether you’re taking on a new role or sharpening your leadership styles, presidents and board chairs alike all sometimes need a little guidance and an experienced sounding board. You have the vision and the drive, we provide the strategic counsel and expertise to help you frame issues wisely, lead boldly and achieve enduring success for your institution.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
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Wrighton Cannon Consulting is a trusted partner in higher-education leadership. We serve university presidents, board chairs, trustees, and executive leaders seeking clear direction, strategic alignment, and practical solutions to the most consequential challenges facing today’s institutions.
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We bring more than five decades of lived presidential and board leadership experience, not theoretical models. Our guidance is grounded in what truly works on campus, in boardrooms, and across complex university systems. Clients rely on us for our steadiness, discretion, and deeply personalized counsel — hallmarks that distinguish us across the sector.
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Our philosophy is simple: leadership strengthens institutions. We approach each engagement with respect for the institution’s mission and culture, offering practical, relationship-centered strategies rooted in experience, data, and thoughtful inquiry. We believe in empowering leaders to make decisions that endure.
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Getting started is straightforward. Contact us via our website form at the bottom of this page, or by clicking “Contact” in our main navigation menu to schedule an introductory conversation. Here, where we learn about your goals and determine the most effective consulting pathway – whether advisory services, coaching, or strategic facilitation.
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Clients can expect greater clarity, stronger leadership capacity, improved board relationships, and measurable progress toward institutional priorities. Our work supports university leaders in navigating complexity with confidence and achieving long-term stability and success.
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Our team is composed of a veteran and nationally regarded university president and seasoned executive vice president with more than 50 years of C-Suite experience in higher education. We have led major research universities and participated in their governance at the highest levels, providing clients with insight shaped by real-world decision-making.
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We offer transparent, engagement-based pricing tailored to the nature, scope and duration of the work. Fees are aligned with the level of support you need and may include ongoing advisory services, short-term coaching, or customized leadership engagements. We offer fixed price arrangements for 90-day and 120-day engagements.
