Frank A. Casagrande
Executive in Residence
Frank A. Casagrande brings over 40 years of combined expertise in consulting, education, and executive compensation. He led the higher education sector at Hay Group for a decade and contributed extensively to their work on executive compensation for tax-exempt organizations, following a 10-year tenure in tax benefits and actuarial services at KPMG and Buck Consultants. With roots in education as a middle and high school teacher, and roles as an adjunct professor at Rutgers and Montclair State Universities, he is also recognized as a seasoned speaker at educational association events. He holds a BS in applied mathematics, an MA in teaching, and an Executive Compensation Certificate, complementing his background as a retired enrolled actuary.
Robert “Skip” Myers, PhD
Senior Consultant
Robert “Skip” Myers combines over 30 years of leadership in higher education with a specialized focus on executive roles, strategic turnarounds, and board dynamics. He has led large public and private institutions, including a transformative tenure as the interim president at UMUC (now University of Maryland Global Campus), where he spearheaded significant global expansion. His experience also encompasses roles as chancellor and president, enhancing academic quality and financial stability at institutions like Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University-Worldwide and Daniel Webster College. He has an academic background in journalism and public relations, with a PhD in higher education policy, planning, and leadership.
Karen Hutcheson
Senior Consultant
Karen Hutchenson is a highly respected authority in compensation consulting with over 25 years of specialization in higher education. As director of compensation effectiveness at Casagrande Institute, she leads the development of contemporary and equitable administrator and staff compensation programs. Her extensive experience, which includes a significant tenure at Mercer and Segal, has seen her influence over 160 institutions with strategic compensation, performance management, and HR effectiveness initiatives. She is known for her bespoke consulting style, ensuring that her clients achieve practical, competitive, and sustainable compensation and job architecture programs. She holds a BA in business administration from Boston University.
David Bauer, PhD
Senior Consultant
David Bauer transitioned to consulting after more than 20 years in higher education including 15 as a tenured professor of psychology at Viterbo University, where he also served as the chair of the psychology department, promotion and tenure committee, and institutional review board. He provides data-driven solutions and strategic insights for faculty compensation and restructuring projects, and he emphasizes the importance of associating compensation with effective behavior. He has a PhD and MS in psychology from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and a BA in psychology from Hope College.
Abbie Norris
Consultant
Abbie Norris is valued for her proficiency with higher education data, particularly from IPEDS, which is vital to the firm’s work with educational institutions. With a keen insight into executive compensation data from IRS Form 990 and detailed knowledge of faculty and staff compensation through CUPA-HR, she is an indispensable member of the project team. She has a BS in psychology from Belmont Abbey College and an MS in business analytics from the University of North Carolina Wilmington.
Sharon Eisenmann
Senior Consultant
Sharon brings over 30 years of experience as a human resource professional including 25 years in higher education as the Chief Human Resource Officer for St. Joseph’s University and Gwynedd Mercy University working directly with senior leadership. Most recently Sharon has been consulting with institutions across the country on a variety of HR issues and initiatives. She has a BS in Education from Chestnut Hill College and a MS in Education from Gwynedd Mercy University.