James Lanier Jr.
James Lanier Jr.
Title
Executive Search Consultant
Firm
AGB Search
Office Address
1666 K Street NW
Suite 1200
Washington, District of Columbia, 20006
United States
Washington, District of Columbia, 20006
United States
Industry Specialties
Non-Profit / Social Enterprise
Property | Real Estate
Private Equity | Venture Capital
Education | Non-Profit
Functional Specialties
Research and Development
Business Development
General Management/CEO/COO
Services
Assessment
Executive Search
Leadership Development
Organizational Effectiveness
Board Search
Executive Search
Leadership Development
Organizational Effectiveness
Board Search
About Lanier
Jim Lanier is one of the five founding Search Consultants who launched AGB Search. Initially he joined the AGB organization as a Senior Fellow for Board Education and Consulting to create the AGB Consulting Group. This team provides aid and guidance for AGB member Boards with longer-term governance and specific board and committee issues, and it has grown into a staple of the AGB brand.
Mr. Lanier's personal focus has been on uniting highly competent philanthropic leaders with institutions and foundations where they can fit and flourish. His experience as a successful higher education leader and an Institutional Related Foundation (IRF) President and CEO has enabled him to champion the special needs of foundation leaders and boards.
Representative Executive Searches
University of Louisville (KY) - Vice President for Institutional Advancement
Baylor University (TX) - Associate for Vice President for Advancement
University of Buffalo Foundation (NY) - President and COE
University of Alaska Foundation (AL) - President and CEO
Louisiana State University Foundation (LA) - President and CEO
Marshall University (WV) - President
Oakland University (MI) - Vice President for Development
University of Louisiana at Lafayette (LA) - Vice President for Advancement and President and CEO of the UL-Lafayette
United States Naval Academy Foundation (MD) - Executive Vice President for Alumni Engagement
University of Maine Foundation - President and CEO
Experience and Honors
Since joining AGB, Mr. Lanier has completed over 100 successful consulting and search engagements with institutions and boards across the country. His clients include governing, foundation, and alumni boards at major research universities and systems, as well as community colleges and private institutions. He is recognized as an expert in board governance, especially in the foundation space, and board roles in philanthropy and campaigns, and is closely aligned with the IRF community.
Mr. Lanier led award-winning programs for 23 years as Vice Chancellor for Institutional Advancement, and President and CEO of two IRF's, the East Carolina University Foundation and the ECU Real Estate Foundation. Throughout his career, he has published articles and frequently been invited to speak at regional and national meetings sponsored by AGB, CASE (Council for Support to Education), and NACUBO (National Association of College and University Business Officers). Notably, he chaired a joint AGB/CASE Taskforce that developed the National Illustrative Model Memorandum of Understanding between Institutions and Foundations, which has become a national standard.
Mr. Lanier is a recipient of the CASE/Common Fund Outstanding Foundation Leadership Award. He also served as a senior adjunct instructor at the Duke Nonprofit Center and sat on numerous for-profit and nonprofit boards, including CASE, the Harold H. Bate Foundation, the Community Foundation of NC East, the LeRoy T. Walker Olympic Assessment Center, and the Eastern North Carolina Chamber of Commerce.
Education
B.S. and M.S. Ed degrees from East Carolina University
Completed the Institute for Educational Management at Harvard