The Director's Paradox highlights the tension between being practitioners, managing established structures, and leading change. This session will empower directors to use their unique positions to drive transformation, increase impact, and develop essential leadership skills. Participants will assess their abilities, reflect on cultural challenges, and learn to align budget priorities with institutional aspirations to decolonize higher education. This webinar is presented by ACPA's Mid-Level Community of Practice (MLCOP)
 
Registration Fees:

Complimentary for ACPA Individual Members

$10 for ACPA Chapter Only Members

$10 for Non-Members

$5 for International Non-Members (must currently reside outside the continental United States and Hawaii) 

ACPA/NASPA Professional Competencies:

Webinar participants will develop their professional competencies in the areas of: Leadership; and Organizational and Human Resource. For more information about the ACPA/NASPA Professional Competency Areas for Student Affairs Practitioners, visit our website.

Presenters:

Jennifer Baszile: Jennifer has led institution-wide student success initiatives that have improved outcomes, rankings, and revenue on tight timelines and even with limited or no new resources. Her work as a faculty member and the director of a national consortium focused on inclusive excellence have further enriched the unique blend of experiences that have allowed to develop an essential perspective on the opportunities and challenges that attend student success. She has refined an evidence based, mission-driven and collaborative approach to student success that has enabled her to establish a clear track record of achievement and impact.
 
Jennifer is also an award-winning researcher and former professor at Yale University where she taught American history and African American studies who understands how to affect institutional change and sustain collaboration while respecting the spirit and tenets of shared governance. She is the author of The Black Girl Next Door: A Memoir, published by Simon & Schuster. Jennifer has received numerous awards, including Ebony magazine's recognition as a top leader under 30, and has been quoted in The Chronicle for Higher Education, Inside Higher Education, and Diverse Issues in Higher Education, and many other national publications. Jennifer holds a Ph.D. in American history from Princeton University and a B.A. in history from Columbia University.
 
Dani Barker: Dani has worked in multiple functional areas at institutions of various types and sizes across the country. Dani brings deep experience in many aspects of higher education including college transition and enrollment, student success, inclusive excellence, curriculum development, social justice and equity, leadership development, student engagement, and program assessment. She has taught and coordinated courses on leadership, ethics and the foundations of liberal education.
 
Beyond her dedicated service to individual institutions, Dani has made significant contributions to the higher education landscape. Her involvement has been multifaceted, encompassing roles such as the Presidential Intern with ACPA, College Student Educators International. Dani has further extended her impact as a member of ACPA's annual convention planning team, showcasing her commitment to shaping the future of higher education. Additionally, she has presented and contributed at numerous national and international conferences, sharing her insights and expertise with audiences around the globe.
 
Dani has over 15 years of experience in the field of leadership education and social justice training. Dani earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Wisconsin-Madison where she majored in Afro-American Studies with minors in Womens’ Studies and LGBTQ Studies and a master’s degree in Higher Education from the University of Arizona.

The Director's Paradox: Leading for Impact and Driving Transformation-Presented by MLCOP

  • Friday Oct 24 2025, 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM