Illinois State brings in Greenwood Asher for cabinet-level legal search

Illinois State University has moved its general counsel search to campus interviews, with three candidates scheduled to visit Oct. 13-15, 2026, for a cabinet-level legal post that reports directly to the president.

The university retained Greenwood Asher & Associates for the search, according to Hunt Scanlon Media. Kyle Pybus-Jerome and Jim Johnsen are leading the assignment for GA&A, Hunt Scanlon reported.

The general counsel will oversee the university’s legal office, supervise legal staff and outside counsel, advise senior leadership, and support compliance and risk management across state and federal issues affecting the institution.

Illinois State is seeking a candidate with deep knowledge of higher education law, strong communication skills and the ability to build relationships across the university. The position also calls for a demonstrated commitment to equity, diversity, access and belonging.

Open forums will allow the campus community to ask questions and provide feedback to the search committee, according to an Oct. 2 university announcement carried by PublicNow. Each forum is expected to include a presentation of around 20 minutes followed by 20 minutes of audience questions, with candidate information scheduled for release approximately 24 hours before each visit.

Based in Miramar Beach, Florida, GA&A specializes in education executive search and was acquired by Kelly Education in 2020, according to Hunt Scanlon.