Best Fractional Chief Academic Officer Services in the USA

United States Outsourced Chief Academic Officer Agencies

When it comes to driving real academic transformation, a Fractional Chief Academic Officer (CAO) can be the secret weapon your institution didn’t know it needed. From tackling curriculum modernization to managing large-scale faculty success programs, these outsourced leaders bring big-league expertise without the full-time executive price tag.

At Digital Reference, we’re passionate about radical authenticity, no fluff, no empty promises, just the real deal. That’s why we’ve curated this research-backed list of standout fractional, part-time, and virtual Chief Academic Officer providers in the USA. Each one has been vetted through client reviews, industry reputation, and our own due diligence to make sure you get the transparency you deserve.

Methodology: How We Chose These Standouts

Before we jump in, here’s how we build our lists:

✅ Research-driven - We go deep: official company info, verified client reviews, industry press, and leadership interviews.
✅ Client-reviewed - If an agency or leader doesn’t have a visible track record, they’re out.
✅ Location-based - USA only, so you know who’s close to your operational footprint.
✅ Radical authenticity - Every name here is here because they’re genuinely doing the work no paid placements.

Below, you’ll find seven standout providers, plus the leaders behind them who make these results happen.

‍

🔦 Provider Spotlights

Greenwood Asher & Associates

🔗 Website: https://www.greenwoodsearch.com/

What they do:
Greenwood Asher & Associates is a powerhouse in executive search and leadership consulting for higher education. They focus on sourcing and placing interim and fractional academic leaders, ensuring continuity and fresh strategy for colleges and universities navigating change.

Who they work with:
Primarily colleges, universities, and education systems both public and private, from community colleges to large research institutions.

Operating model:
They blend national search expertise with personalized, confidential consulting to match the right CAO or executive with each institution’s unique culture.

💡 Why they stand out:

• Proven search frameworks honed over decades.
  
  
• Deep bench of interim and fractional CAOs ready to deploy.
  
  
• Strong reputation for diversity-focused placements.

Dr. Jan Greenwood, Founder, Greenwood Asher & Associates

🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jan-greenwood-5317441/

Dr. Jan Greenwood brings extensive experience as both an executive search consultant and a university president. She’s widely known for pioneering best practices in academic leadership recruitment, particularly around diversity and inclusion. Jan’s consultative style blends rigorous research with a deep understanding of institutional culture.

TSG HR

🔗 Website: https://tsg-hr.com/

What they do:
TSG HR delivers interim HR and executive services, including fractional CAOs for schools and educational nonprofits. They specialize in aligning people, processes, and performance to deliver measurable academic outcomes.

Who they work with:
Charter schools, education nonprofits, and private education institutions often those scaling or transforming.

Operating model:
TSG HR’s outsourced model combines HR advisory with interim leadership to cover urgent academic and operational needs.

💡 Why they stand out:

• Award-winning HR frameworks applied to education.
  
  
• Flexible engagement models for part-time and project-based CAOs.
  
  
• Track record with K-12 and postsecondary institutions.

Scott Williams, Founder, TSG HR

🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scottawilliamssphr/

Scott Williams, SPHR, is an established HR and executive leader with over 20 years of experience transforming organizations through people-first strategies. He’s known for building high-trust cultures and aligning human capital strategy with operational goals. His leadership style is practical and solution-oriented, clients praise his ability to untangle complex people challenges quickly

Hodges Group International

🔗 Website: https://www.hodgesgroupintl.com/

What they do:
Hodges Group International offers executive coaching and fractional academic leadership for institutions prioritizing transformational change and equity.

Who they work with:
Primarily higher education and mission-driven institutions needing strategic diversity and academic excellence leadership.

Operating model:
Customized contracts for fractional or interim CAOs, paired with strategic leadership coaching.

💡 Why they stand out:

• Highly personalized coaching frameworks.
  
  
• Focus on equity and institutional transformation.
  
  
• Dr. Hodges’ track record guiding complex change.

Dr. Heather L. Hodges, Founder, Hodges Group International

🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dr-heather-l-hodges-07400a142/

Dr. Heather L. Hodges is a seasoned higher education leader with a doctorate in educational leadership and policy analysis. Her mission-driven work centers on equity, transformation, and sustainable leadership pipelines for underrepresented groups. Her approach is research-based yet deeply people-centered; she often publishes on inclusive leadership best practices.

Funk Associates

🔗 Website: https://funkassociates.com/

What they do:
Funk Associates is a nationally recognized search firm for higher education. They connect colleges and universities with proven academic leaders on a permanent or interim basis, including fractional CAO roles.

Who they work with:
Public and private higher ed, systems, and boards.

Operating model:
Bespoke search with a discreet, trusted network of experienced leaders.

💡 Why they stand out:

• Decades-long track record in the sector.
  
  
• Deep ties with top academic talent.
  
  
• Renowned for leadership succession planning.

Willie Funk, Founder, Funk Associates

🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/willie-funk-39ba99312/

Willie Funk is a legend in academic executive search, with decades of experience matching presidents, provosts, and CAOs to institutions nationwide. His name is synonymous with integrity, deep connections, and meticulous vetting. He’s known for an old-school but effective style: direct, detail-oriented, and personally invested in client success.

Casagrande Consulting

🔗 Website: https://casagrandeconsultingllc.com/

What they do:
Casagrande Consulting provides strategy and fractional leadership for colleges and education systems, with a focus on academic and administrative excellence.

Who they work with:
Regional colleges, community colleges, and higher ed systems.

Operating model:
Project-based and interim CAO roles, supported by advisory services.

💡 Why they stand out:

• Data-driven institutional research.
  
  
• Proven frameworks for board relations and governance.
  
  
• Known for stabilizing leadership transitions.

Frank Casagrande, Founder, Casagrande Consulting

🔗 LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/frankacasagrande/

Frank Casagrande is a trusted advisor in the education space, renowned for his pragmatic, data-first approach to academic leadership. His consulting style emphasizes governance and institutional sustainability. He’s respected for a no-nonsense, data-backed approach—guiding boards to make tough decisions with confidence.

Final Thoughts from Digital Reference

At Digital Reference, we believe that academic leadership should be both accessible and exceptional. These providers represent the best of what the U.S. has to offer when it comes to flexible, outcome-driven Chief Academic Officer services from experienced interim leaders to curriculum reform consultants to full-scale CAO strategists.

If you’re scaling a charter network, building the next edtech unicorn, or leading a legacy university through transformation, consider one of these providers to bring authentic, part-time executive power into your institution.

Want to explore other fractional CxO roles? Check out our guides on top CAIOs, CPOs, and Chiefs of Staff across the U.S. and beyond.

Radical transparency. Real leadership. That’s the Digital Reference way.

Explore More from Digital Reference:

• United States Education Consultants to Know 
• Best Fractional CMO Services in the United States
• Academic Professionals: What Are They and What Do They Do?
• Education Consultants & Academic Experts: What Do They Do?

‍