Breaking Down Silos
Dixie
Given the challenging landscape for independent colleges and universities, institutions are increasingly realizing the critical importance of seeking out new and innovative ways to engage with key constituents including prospective students, parents, alumni, and donors. Unfortunately, traditional divisional and departmental silos often limit creativity and prevent these engagement efforts from achieving their full potential and impact. Whether presidents are primarily looking to deepen alumni connections, grow enrollment, meet fundraising goals, or positively influence town-gown relations, in this session we will share examples, insights, and tools to break down internal silos and realize the transformational impact for cross-divisional and cross-constituent engagement.
Julia Jasken, President, McDaniel College (MD)
Terrence M. Sawyer, President, Loyola University Maryland
Building an Effective Executive Leadership Team
Escambia
In this interactive session, topics/characteristics important to the development of a highly functional cabinet/executive council/leadership team will be discussed, including being mission-driven and student-centered. Further, discussion will address the president’s key steps to working with the board of trustees. Important to both executive team and trustee success is communication, goal setting, risk avoidance, and working with difficult members. Attendees will be encouraged to ask questions and share experience with two retired presidents and session attendees.
Robert Head, Retired President, Urbana University (OH) and Rockford University (IL); Partner, Hyatt-Fennell Executive Search
Jann Weitzel, Retired President, Cottey College (MO); Senior Consultant, Hyatt-Fennell Executive Search
Cultivating Industry Partners
Gilchrist
Three presidents from residential liberal arts colleges share their experiences developing regional and national partnerships with industry, business, and other educational institutions. The session explores how these collaborations support institutional missions, expand learning opportunities, and provide cost-sharing alternatives. Presenters will highlight actual examples of innovative partnerships that strengthen liberal arts education and student career readiness. Participants will be actively engaged in identifying common themes for successful partnerships and will have the opportunity to map strategies to opportunities for their institution.
Eric Boynton, President, Beloit College (WI)
Ron Cole, President, Allegheny College (PA)
Krista Newkirk, President, University of Redlands (CA)
Presidential Sabbaticals
Lake
Presidential renewal is a challenging construct, particularly when the higher education environment is as disruptive as it is right now. The demands of a college presidency may be at an all-time high, and the thought of a presidential sabbatical may seem unattainable. This session will help presidents discern with their board the benefits and logistics behind a presidential sabbatical so campus leaders can continue to be their very best at a time when we need effective and transformative leadership.
Richard Dunsworth, President, University of the Ozarks (AR)
James Troha,President, Juniata College (PA)
Shared Governance in a Community of Trust
Manatee
Based on his recently published book Leading Across the Arc of Time: Commitment and Change in Higher Education (Johns Hopkins University Press, 2025), Mark Putnam will lead this discussion on shared governance in “A Community of Trust.” We will talk about how embracing the arc of time can be an asset in building a foundation for change that is rooted in collaboration between the president (administration), the board, and the faculty.
Mark Putnam, President, Central College (IA)
Strategies for Combatting Real and Perceived Antisemitism on College Campuses
Nassau
Many college campuses across the country have experienced acts of antisemitism and, even for those who have not, there is a public perception that higher education is not committed to a campus environment supportive of Jewish students, faculty members, and staff. This roundtable discussion invites participants to discuss strategies for combating real and perceived antisemitism on campus and support for Jewish students, faculty members, and staff, while also balancing commitments to freedom of expression within the guidelines of campus policies and legal requirements and support for all students. Facilitators will also share their own learning experiences about Jewish history through their participation in a college president’s study tour of Poland, tracing the steps of the Holocaust and as delegates to the annual International March of the Living in Warsaw.
Roslyn Clark Artis, President and CEO, Benedict College (SC)
Jenna Colvin, President, Georgia Independent College Association
Elizabeth Puthoff, President, Independent Colleges and Universities of Texas
Lori S. White, President, DePauw University (IN)
The Three Wicked Financial Problems We Have to Solve
Flagler
In this session we will engage with a live demonstration of the data informed tools that are required to restore operating integrity, both in terms of margins and liquidity. Our goal is to build a sustainable model and provide a platform for the future of your institution. During this conversation, we will use real examples to illustrate the challenges we face and explore actionable solutions for the semester ahead. This is an opportunity for us to come together, share insights, and collaborate on strategies that will drive our success, together.
Chuck Ambrose, Senior Education Consultant, Husch Blackwell
Transforming Institutions with Agentic AI
Waterside Ballrooms 10 and 11
This session will break down the key building blocks of agentic AI and how intelligent, goal-driven artificial intelligence agents are transforming how schools operate at scale. Expect real-world use cases of AI-powered assistants handling everything from proactive student outreach to automated application decisioning, all without staff intervention.
Brendan Henkel, Assistant Vice President of Solutions Engineering, Element 451
Why Are Fewer Gen Z Men Pursuing College?
Orange
Men in the United States are much less likely to enroll in and complete a college degree than women. In 2025, men earned only about 40 percent of the bachelor’s degrees awarded in the US. Join us to discuss what presidents can do to address this increasingly striking disparity.
Robin Baker, President, George Fox University (OR)