Leading in the Middle: How Culture Shapes Leadership and Management in Higher Education

Leading in the Middle: How Culture Shapes Leadership and Management in Higher Education

Middle managers in higher education navigate a complex space between institutional priorities, team needs, and their own approaches to leadership. Culture and identity can influence how we communicate, make decisions, manage conflict, build relationships, and understand authority. This virtual panel will bring together higher education professionals to share their experiences and perspectives on how culture has shaped their leadership and management practices, particularly while leading from the middle. Panelists will reflect on navigating institutional culture, managing across organizational levels, and adapting their leadership while remaining grounded in their values and identities. The session will conclude with audience questions, shared experiences, and an open exchange of strategies and insights. The program is a collaboration between the NASPA Community College Division/Latinx Task Force and NASPA Mid-level Steering Committee.

Learning Outcomes:

1. By the end of this webinar, participants will be able to: Identify ways cultural values, identities, and experiences influence leadership and management practices.
2. Examine how individual, team, and institutional cultures intersect in the work of higher education middle managers.
3. Apply strategies for navigating communication, relationships, conflict, and competing expectations across organizational levels.
4. Reflect on their own experiences and exchange strategies with colleagues for leading effectively and authentically from the middle.

📍 Virtual

📅 October 21, 2026 - 12 - 1 PM ET

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