The University of Toledo Executive Search

Executive Search at the University of Toledo

The executive search team is an internal group comprised of experienced consultants dedicated to identifying and attracting exceptional leaders to the University of Toledo. Our team embraces diverse and innovative recruitment strategies and is familiar with the University, its leadership, and its culture.

WHY WORK AT UToledo?

As a major public research university, UToledo offers a large network of richly diverse people and services, generous benefits, flexible work schedules and a healthy work-life balance … all on vibrant campuses featuring lots of green space. And, because the University is the second largest employer in northwest Ohio, our faculty and staff have many options for professional growth and personal job satisfaction. Search our jobs. Fuel your future.

About The University of Toledo

The University of Toledo is one of just 27 public research universities in the country to offer such a comprehensive menu of academic options — 270+ undergraduate and graduate degree programs across the arts, business, education, engineering, law, medicine, natural sciences, nursing and pharmacy. At UToledo, it's all about the possibilities and opportunities.

Committed to excellence and student success, UToledo has developed a number of long-term plans to ensure continued progress on our institutional priorities. The University of Toledo Strategic Plan is complemented by plans to support diversity, equity and inclusion , campus master plan and strategic enrollment goals.

Meet Some Recent Placements

Melissa Gregory, Ph.D.

Dean of the College of Arts and Letters

Dr. Melissa Gregory, who has served as interim dean of the College of Arts and Letters since February 2022, has been selected following a national search to continue to lead the college as its permanent dean. Specializing in nineteenth-century British literature, Gregory joined the UToledo English faculty in 2002 and served as associate dean of the college from 2018 to 2022. In her experience as associate dean and interim dean, Gregory led initiatives to increase student participation in undergraduate research, improve student retention and elevate the visibility and reputation of liberal arts and humanities.

Bryan Blair

Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics and Director of Athletics

Bryan B. Blair was selected the Rockets’ new Vice President for Intercollegiate Athletics and Director of Athletics. Currently, Blair leads the team of sport administrators responsible for day-to-day oversight of Washington State’s 17 varsity sports programs as well as overseeing several departmental units focused on student-athlete success. A rising star in intercollegiate athletics, he has been selected to serve on the National Sports Forum’s Steering Committee and the Board of Directors for the Minority Opportunities Athletic Association. He holds a law degree from the University of South Carolina and completed his undergraduate studies at Wofford College, where he was a Division I football student-athlete.

Dilip Das, Ph.D.

Vice President for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

Dr. Dilip Das leads UToledo’s diversity initiatives as Vice President for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. At the University of Michigan, Das co-led a campus-wide diversity, equity and inclusion strategic plan and task forces and implemented a number of task force recommendations to support students with disabilities, Native American students and undocumented students. A graduate of UToledo’s higher education administration doctoral program, Das said he gained much insight into his equity leadership through his dissertation research in which he examined the effects of socioeconomic class and race on the two-year to four-year college transfer process.

Floyd Akins

Vice Provost for University Advancement

Floyd Akins, a fundraiser with 25 years of experience in higher education advancement, public relations and admissions, joined The University of Toledo as vice president for University advancement in February 2023. Akins comes to UToledo from Michigan State University, where he is associate vice president for advancement, overseeing constituent fundraising, individual giving and prospect development and corporate and foundation engagement.

Anne Fulkerson, Ph.D.

Assistant Vice Provost for Institutional Research

Dr. Anne Fulkerson joined UToledo as assistant vice provost for institutional research. Fulkerson has more than 20 years of experience conducting academic and institutional research at two-year and four-year institutions in Ohio and Michigan. Most recently, she served as director of institutional research at Owens Community College. Fulkerson received a bachelor’s in psychology, a master’s in experimental psychology and a doctoral degree in experimental psychology from UToledo.

Kurt Kless, R.N.

Chief Nursing Officer

Kurt Kless joined the University of Toledo Medical Center as chief nursing officer. Kless joined UTMC from Wellstar Atlanta Medical Center in Atlanta, where he most recently served as the interim chief nursing officer and assistant vice president of nursing and professional practice. A native of Cleveland, Kless earned a bachelor of science degree in nursing from Case Western Reserve University. He also holds a master of science in nursing and a master of business administration from Indiana Wesleyan University.