Zach Smith, PhD, leads WittKieffer’s global education practice, overseeing executive search, leadership advisory, and interim leadership services for colleges and universities around the world. Since taking on this role in 2019, he has driven consistent growth and excellence, expanding the firm’s capacity to meet the evolving leadership needs of its higher education clients.

Since joining WittKieffer in 2014, Zach’s work has focused on president, provost, vice president, and dean searches for institutions across the academic spectrum — including AAU members, research universities, regional comprehensive institutions, polytechnics, and liberal arts colleges. Zach is known for his nuanced understanding of how leadership effectiveness aligns with institutional culture, drawing on more than 15 years of experience as a higher education administrator.

Before joining WittKieffer, Zach held several senior roles at the University of California, Riverside, including Interim Chief Development Officer/Associate Vice Chancellor and Executive Vice President of the UC Riverside Foundation. He also served in advancement and academic medicine leadership roles at UC Irvine and was Director of Development at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

A frequent speaker at industry events, Zach focuses on talent management, leadership development, and emerging trends in higher education. He has written for publications including The Chronicle of Higher Education, Journal of Leadership and Organizational Studies, and International Journal of Educational Advancement.

Zach previously served on WittKieffer’s board of directors and is a recipient of the firm’s Quality Award, recognizing his impact on client satisfaction and his embodiment of WittKieffer’s core values.