We hope that you will explore West Palm Beach if you arrive in the city before the program begins. There are plenty of things to do and see if you are a first-time visitor, or even if you have been to West Palm Beach many times. The official tourism website for West Palm Beach is one of many online resources available to visitors.
Attire
The dress for NASPA events is business casual.
Past Institute Participant Testimonials
"Attending the NASPA AVP Institute was extremely beneficial. It afforded me the opportunity to learn from leaders in the field, discuss legislation impacting higher education, and explore the ways in which equity, inclusion, and social justice inform my work. The workshops challenged me to think critically about leadership and my role as an AVP or 'number two.' Connecting with colleagues from across the country was also invaluable. I would definitely encourage other AVPs to attend.
- Santiago Solis, Associate Vice President for Student Affairs, Towson University (2018 institute participant)
"Attending the NASPA AVP Institute in my first year as an AVP was one of the best decisions I made. It not only provided critical information on how to find success in my role, but the Institute also provided space and time for reflection while connecting me with a strong national network of peers and mentors. I strongly recommend this professional development opportunity to my peers in the field."
- Kathryn Kay Coquemont, Assistant Vice President for Student Development, Salt Lake Community College (2018 institute participant)
"I was fortunate to attend the AVP Institute within the first two weeks of my role and was immensely grateful for a roadmap as I began this new journey. The institute provided pertinent information coupled with a supportive community that lasted long after the experience. From the inner work and reflection to expanding my professional network to the coaching opportunities made available through the talented faculty, I was better equipped to lead with my team as a new AVP. I highly recommend this for new and continuing AVPs!
- Shea Kidd Houze, Assistant Vice Chancellor for Student Life and Dean of Students, University of Tennessee, Knoxville (2018 institute participant)
"I first attended the Institute in hopes to build a network with other AVP’s and also to create some strategies for specific aspects of my role. Both of these goals were accomplished and I left the Institute feeling well-equipped to move forward on various projects and initiatives. I attended again the following year and was able to strengthen my networks and relationships with others to an even greater extent!"
- Todd Smith-Bergollo, Assistant Dean and Director of Student Development and Campus Activities, Pace University (2017 and 2018 institute participant)
"As a past participant in the NASPA AVP Institute, I can truly say it was a fabulous experience. Through interactions with amazing institute faculty, guest presenters, and cohort members, I gained a better understanding of organizational relationships and office cultures, found new ways to infuse social justice practices into both work and life, and received strategies to embrace challenges within the AVP role. I definitely recommend the AVP Institute to new AVPs or AVPs transitioning into new institutions."
- Ryan C. Holmes, Associate Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students, University of Miami (2018 institute participant)
"The NASPA AVP Institute was an incredibly rewarding professional development experience. The Institute faculty and my fellow AVP attendees came together to create a dynamic environment for workshops, reflection and relationship building. Thanks to the innovative and actionable strategies provided at the Institute, I returned to my Dean of Students role refreshed, energized and grateful. I strongly recommend that you invest in yourself, your team and your students by attending the NASPA AVP Institute."
- Jean Griffin, Dean of Students, Xavier University (2018 institute participant)
"The NASPA AVP Institute was the most worthwhile professional development opportunity I have engaged in in years. The uniqueness to the 'number two' role is shared and understood by all who attend and the round tables and topic discussions are rich and relevant in our everyday lives in the ever changing world of higher education. I would encourage all "number twos" to go and take advantage of all offerings including optional breakfasts, socials, and dinner with colleagues where all are collegial and welcoming."
- David A. Hall, Assistant Vice President of Student Affairs & Director of Campus Recreation, Springfield College (2018 institute participant)
"The AVP Institute helped me gain a deeper understanding of my role by providing a space for shared knowledge and experience. As a new AVP, the engaging sessions by Institute faculty challenged and motivated me to reflect and envision how I could make the AVP role my own. I left empowered and excited to use the tools and resources I gained to strengthen myself and more effectively serve those at my institution."
- Rosalyn A. Kempf, Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs and Women’s Leadership, Mount Saint Mary’s University, Los Angeles (2018 institute participant)
“I attended the NASPA AVP Institute during my first year in the role and found it to be invaluable. It allowed me to think about the unique role as a leader and as a supporter, and the opportunity to connect with colleagues from across the country was incredibly helpful. I also attended the institute in my second year and found it to be equally valuable as the institute faculty kept the content fresh and relevant.”
- Terry Martinez, Associate Vice Provost/Dean of Students, Johns Hopkins University
“The Institute provided an intimate setting to engage with colleagues from throughout the country and with the Institute’s excellent faculty. The sessions were exceptionally well done and provided both real-world context and theoretical frameworks for serving in the AVP role.”
- Salvador B. Mena, Associate Vice Chancellor of Student Affairs, Rutgers University
“During my time at the AVP Institute, I learned a great deal about the complexity in navigating the political landscape of an institution, the importance of building relationships across campus, and the strategies need to effectively budget and strategically plan in an ever-changing environment. I also appreciated the opportunity to network with and learn from peers across the country who hold similar roles in Student Affairs.”
- Elizabeth Bapasola, Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs, The College of New Jersey
“In my first year as AVP/Dean of Students, the NASPA AVP Institute was invaluable in getting me set up for success. It challenged me to think strategically about how I was going to begin this new endeavor, and the connections I made at the Institute will continue to be beneficial throughout my career.”
- Art Munin, Assistant Vice President and Dean of Students, Illinois State University
“The NASPA AVP Institute is an exemplary professional development experience. The highly curated, well thought-out experience included meaningful opportunities for networking with peers, conversations on critical issues impacting institutions of higher education in general and AVPs in particular, and highly personalized, individual conversations with SSAOs. I will certainly be participating in this institute with as much frequency as my schedule permits!”
- David Clark, Assistant Vice President for Campus Life and Assistant Dean in the College, The University of Chicago
“The NASPA AVP Institute was a transformation event for me. Not only were the faculty insightful, I connected with people in the same role as me and I am still utilizing those relationships to help troubleshoot challenges in my own day-to-day job. It was also fun to spend time with a group of fellow professionals who understand and appreciate my role.”
- Eric E. Arneson, Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs, Florida International University
"The NASPA AVP Institute provided a great framework for understanding the unique challenges and opportunities for AVPs. As a new AVP it was great to develop a network of peers in similar positions that understand the role of the AVP."
- Dannie Moore, Assistant Vice President for Student Inclusiveness, Northern Kentucky University
"The AVP Institute curriculum was truly foundational for me as a new AVP. Timely topics such as resource management, assessment, and inclusion were presented through an AVP lens and formed how I address these areas in my daily role. Spending this time with other professionals in similar roles created a community for me in the field that I know I can continue to rely upon for feedback and ideas moving forward."
- Angela Lauer Chong, Assistant Vice President and Dean of Students, Health & Wellness, Division of Student Affairs, The College of New Jersey
"The AVP Institute was an excellent opportunity to build professional connections with colleagues doing similar work around the world. I appreciated the focus on current hot topics in higher education and the small group discussions about our role in addressing them."
- Erica O'Neal Howard, Senior Associate Dean of Students, Occidental College
“The NASPA AVP Institute provided the appropriate combination of “looking up” as well as being razor sharp on emerging issues within the profession. I was able to bring home practical solutions for day-to-day challenges. I was also challenged to look at myself holistically. The time was both refreshing and inspiring.”
- Laurie Betting, Associate Vice President for Health and Wellness, University of North Dakota
“I attended the 2015 NASPA AVP Institute feeling isolated in my new role. When I left, I had discovered a network of colleagues who were experiencing or had solved every one of the challenges that I was facing on a daily basis, and the information that was shared has become the cornerstone of my professional practice and challenges me to be better each day. Now when challenges occur, I have the people and information behind me to be more confident in my decisions and actions. The NASPA AVP Institute was a career enhancing experience like few others I have encountered.”
- Kyle Baillie, Director, Student Life & Development, University of the Fraser Valley
"The NASPA AVP Institute provided reflection time that all leaders need, the information to think differently and creatively about old problems, and the connections with other AVPs that have proven useful ever since New Orleans. I would recommend without hesitation attending this Institute if you can."
- Paul J. McLoughlin II, Dean of Students, Lafayette College
"The institute not only gave me personal information to help me grow in this position (as I was less than a year in at the time) but gave me the ability to look from 30,000 feet to see what the needs might be within my area of responsibility."
- Kim Turner, Assistant Vice President for Student Support & Business Operations, Northern Kentucky University
"Participating in the AVP Institute provided an infusion of renewed enthusiasm and passion for my role as a campus leader. Actively participating in the smaller institute setting allowed for group dialogue and the rare opportunity to share strengths and challenges of managing up and down in the unique role one plays as an AVP."
- Renie Moss, Assistant Dean for Campus Life, Samford University
"If you have a desire to learn how to become the most effective “number two” or the next “number one,” then this institute is the place to be. Since leaving the institute my motivation to learn more has elevated, and my commitment to be more effective has been sustained."
- Mark Gumble, Assistant Vice President, Student Development & Enrollment Services, University of Central Florida
"The AVP Institute provided me with a network of peers I can call upon as I respond to multitude of issues that come my way. This network, when combined with the opportunity to hear from other AVPs and how they manage their role on campus, was important for me in my own skill development as well as my confidence in knowing I can be successful in this role."
- Bruce Skinner, Assistant Vice President for Student Success, Southeast Missouri State University
"One thing I really enjoyed about the Institute was how it was as relevant to new “number twos” as it was to older, more experienced ones. The ability to develop a network of colleagues from across the country was invaluable and useful to me and I am sure to others."
- Michael Ginsburg, Associate Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs, University of Illinois at Chicago
