Fresh From the UIA (Higher Ed Leadership)

Casey Sacks, President of BridgeValley Community and Technical College, discusses the view on the ground versus the big picture, her personal leadership journey, some of her proudest accomplishments, strategies for decision making, and the power of both information and knowledge.

The UIA is has been successful because of its small scale and unwavering commitment to its mission. This year the alliance is expanding its impact through the National Summit on Student Success Innovation and the ever-growing resources of the University innovation Lab.

Charles Welch, President and CEO of the American Association of State Colleges and Universities, discusses what inspired him to work in the education sector, leadership’s unique perspective, painful decisions for the good of the institution, and the value of authenticity and lived experience.

Dr. Shonda Gibson discusses what America needs from higher education, the challenges and rewards for a major university system, how to best serve returning students, and humility and perspective as leadership attributes.

The University Innovation Lab has been up and running for a year. We review why we need this platform, how it contributes to student success, and the institution-wide benefits of membership. We invite you to experience a demo to get a feel for how the UI Lab can help your school innovate.

Lisa Vollendorf, President of SUNY Empire State, discusses what shaped her as a leader, higher ed’s tendency toward elitism, how leaders and institutions can grow through traumatic events, and the value of being present and making the best possible impact.

The year 2024 marks a decade of the University Innovation Alliance’s mission to revolutionize higher education. Join us in celebrating our successes, unpacking our ongoing challenges, and looking at how we plan to build on our accomplishments going forward.

Bridget Burns of the University Innovation Alliance and Doug Lederman of Inside Higher Ed discuss pitching scalable ideas from a place of commonality, respecting the time and interest of leaders at other institutions, owning and remediating mistakes, and speaking with a collective voice.

Garnett Stokes, President of University of New Mexico, discusses the mindset of accepting new leadership challenges, the responsibilities of institutional leaders as employers, required skills for effective leadership, and navigating the small world of higher ed.

The University Innovation Alliance offers a collection of gift ideas for higher ed leaders, including organizing tools, stress relief products, travel accessories, useful tech peripherals, and a few just-for-fun items.