The Institute Participant

This program is designed for first-time SSAOs who have not assumed office or are in the first two years of their SSAO position.  Participants must be the most senior student affairs officer on their campus.

Aspiring to be a new SSAO by next year's Institute?

Attend the Institute for Aspiring SSAOs or the Alice Manicur Symposium, and move closer to realizing your goal.

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Institute for New Senior Student Affairs Officers

Leadership and Management Effectiveness for
the New Senior Student Affairs Officer

sponsored by the James E. Scott Academy

2010 Institute for New SSAOs October 10-12, 2010

Hyatt Regency * Washington, DC

Registration & Fees | Hotel and Travel 

The Institute for New Senior Student Affairs Officers is an intensive three-day academy for the student affairs administrative leader in their first two years in the position. Designed by some of the nation's best SSAO's, the innovative curriculum will focus on your success through strategic decision-making, transformational campus leadership, and highly effective management capabilities.

Leaders from the student affairs field, as well as professionals from business, media, and public sectors will share techniques, advice, and solutions that create exemplary administrators in higher education.  The Institute presenters will address the most relevant topics which will provide you the tools and strategies to make you the best vice president on campus.   

This transformative professional development experience will focus on three areas of achievement necessary for senior-level leadership in higher education today an in the future: Managing for heightened organizational performance, entrepreneurial leadership, and achieving systemic, transformational change.

Performance Management

• Strategic thinking, planning and implementation
• Financial acquisition and allocation techniques
• Crisis planning and response
• Human resource management

Entrepreneurial Leadership

• Political relationship-building
• Strategies in a turnaround environment
• Leading the learning organization
• Technological tools for success

Future Levers for Change  

• Transformative change management
• Entrepreneurial endeavors
• Collaborations outside of student affairs and higher education

This professional development opportunity is designed for first-time SSAOs who have not assumed office or are in the first two years of their SSAO position.  Participants must be the most senior student affairs officer on their campus.

The Institute’s faculty, all highly experienced SSAOs from a diverse group of institutions, will share their experiences and provide insights and knowledge needed to effectively manage new responsibilities and constituents, as well as broaden perspectives on critical issues facing senior-level leaders.


Program Director
Shannon Ellis
Vice President for Student Services
University of Nevada-Reno