Cynthia Patterson is Managing Director and Senior Consultant at Academic Search, Inc., where she advises higher education and K–12 institutions on executive search and leadership recruitment, drawing on more than 25 years of experience across academia and education technology. She has held senior leadership roles in higher education, including Vice President for Academic Affairs and Chief Student Affairs Officer, as well as senior athletics administration positions. In addition to her academic leadership background, she has served in executive roles within education technology and data analytics companies, including Senior Vice President, Programs at Athenium Analytics, Vice President of Client Services & Operations at Stride, Inc., and senior leadership roles at Middlebury Interactive Languages, where she oversaw business operations, academic affairs, and instructional services. Earlier in her career, she served as Vice President for Academic Affairs at Lynn University, where she led academic restructuring, curriculum innovation, and faculty development initiatives across multiple colleges and schools. Cynthia holds a PhD in American History from Northwestern University and a Bachelor of Arts in History from Rollins College.