December 9, 2026 – December 11, 2026
Women across higher education are leading through complexity—advocating for students, navigating institutional change, and holding communities together through seasons of uncertainty. This institute is designed to support, strengthen, and elevate that leadership.
Leading Forward brings together women from all roles and career stages to explore what it means to lead with clarity, purpose, and sustainability in today’s rapidly shifting higher ed landscape. Through keynotes, interactive workshops, and intentional networking, participants will gain practical strategies, renewed confidence, and a community of peers who understand the realities of doing this work.
Whether you’re a rising leader, an established manager, or a seasoned professional seeking fresh perspective, Leading Forward offers the space, tools, and community to navigate what’s now and prepare for what’s next.
This year’s institute will explore themes including:
- Sustainable Leadership & Personal Capacity
How women sustain themselves and their teams amid resource constraints, high demand, and shifting institutional priorities. - The Language of Business & Strategic Communication
Tools for translating impact, communicating with senior leaders, and leading with data-informed clarity. - Leadership Networks & Strategic Relationships
Building the relationships, mentorships, and sponsorships that fuel career growth and strengthen support systems. - Influence, Advocacy & Getting the Yes
Strategies for persuasion, self-advocacy, storytelling, and leading from any seat—even without positional authority. - Navigating the Current Higher Ed Landscape
Exploring the political, financial, and cultural currents shaping our work, and how women leaders can adapt while staying grounded in their values. - Career Advancement & Identity as a Leader
Growing into your leadership voice, designing your next steps, and leading authentically—especially for women of color and those navigating predominantly white institutions.
Sponsorship
Interested in sponsoring? Review the sponsorship prospectus, terms and conditions, and online application.
Schedule
Wednesday, December 9
- 4–7 p.m. – Registration Open
- 5–7 p.m. – Welcome Reception
Thursday, December 10
- 8–9 a.m. – Registration Open
- 8–9 a.m. – Breakfast
- 9–9:40 a.m. – Welcome & Speed Friending
- 9:40–10:30 a.m. – Welcome Keynote with Chicora Martin and Dr. Rachel Bowser
- 10:40–11:30 a.m. – Session 1: Influence, Advocacy & Getting the Yes (Monica Nixon, Janelle, Rahyns)
- 11:40 a.m.–12:30 p.m. – Session 2: Forward Leading: Strengths Every Leader Needs for What’s Next (Dean Erika James)
- 12:30–1:30 p.m. – Lunch
- 1:30–2:20 p.m. – Session 3: Leadership Networks & Strategic Relationships (Dr. Belinda Hyppolite)
- 2:30–3:20 p.m. – Roundtable Discussion
- 3:30–4:20 p.m. – Session 4: Sustainable Leadership & Personal Capacity (Dr. Luoluo Hong)
- 4:20–4:30 – Wrap Up
- Dinner on Own
Friday, December 11
- 8–9 a.m. – Registration Open
- 8–9 a.m. – Breakfast
- 9–10 a.m. – Welcome, Energizer, Reflection
- 10–11 a.m. – Fireside Chat
- 11 a.m.–Noon – Keynote Address with Shelia Higgs Burkhalter
- Noon–12:30 p.m. – Closing Session
Speakers
Rachel A. Bowser assumed the position of vice president for academic affairs and dean of the college and professor of English on July 1, 2022. As vice president, she oversees the academic program, the faculty, and academic support services. Most recently, she was associate provost for strategic initiatives and professor of English at Georgia Gwinnett College. She received her bachelor’s degree from Grove City College, master’s degree from West Virginia University, and Ph.D. from Emory University—all in English.
Shelia Higgs Burkhalter “Shiggs” is Vice President for Student Affairs at Winthrop University, where she serves on the President’s Cabinet and provides executive leadership for a comprehensive student affairs portfolio. With 33 years in higher education, including 16 years in executive leadership, she has served public and private institutions with a career focused on student success, organizational transformation, leadership development, and creating environments where students and communities thrive.
A 2023 NASPA Pillar of the Profession, Shelia has contributed extensively to NASPA throughout her career, particularly in areas focused on career pipelines and advancement, women in leadership, first-generation populations, and diverse communities. She is also a nationally sought-after speaker, certified executive coach, and three-time bestselling author.
Shelia is the founder/CEO of Shiggs B International, LLC, where she empowers leaders to navigate transitions and lead with clarity, courage, and purpose. She holds an MBA from the University of Arkansas, an M.S.Ed. from Indiana University Bloomington, and a B.S. from Southeast Missouri State University.
Dr. Belinda Higgs Hyppolite is a leader, entrepreneur, builder, innovator, bestselling author, facilitator, educator, mental health consultant, and creator whose career has been defined by possibility and purpose. With 30 years of experience across multiple higher education institutions and nonprofit organizations, she has consistently stepped into complex spaces and transformed them into opportunities for growth. Her leadership has helped expand pathways for students, faculty, staff, and the larger community, strengthening access to institutional systems, nurturing professional development, and championing excellence and success at every level.
At the heart of Dr. Higgs Hyppolite’s work is a deeply held belief: education should open doors, never close them. She has devoted her career to removing barriers, creating support structures, and ensuring that individuals, regardless of their background, have the resources they need to thrive. Her work carries both inspiration and conviction, reminding us that when access is expanded and people are empowered, communities flourish and futures change.
Erika H. James became the dean of the Wharton School on July 1, 2020. Trained as an organizational psychologist, Dean James is a leading expert on crisis leadership, workplace diversity, and management strategy.
Prior to her appointment at Wharton, Dean James was the John H. Harland Dean at Emory University’s Goizueta Business School from 2014 to 2020.
An award-winning educator, accomplished consultant, and innovative researcher, she has paved the way for women in leadership both in education and corporate America. Dean James has been instrumental in developing groundbreaking executive education programs, including the Women in Leadership program at the University of Virginia’s Darden School.
Dean James serves on the boards of Morgan Stanley, The Economic Club of New York, and Pomona College. She is a sought-after thought leader whose expertise has been quoted by The Wall Street Journal, MSNBC, Bloomberg, The Washington Post, and numerous other media outlets. Her latest book is The Prepared Leader: Emerge from Any Crisis More Resilient Than Before (Wharton School Press) which she co-authored with Lynn Perry Wooten, President of Simmons University.
Chicora Martin assumed the position of vice president for student affairs and dean of students on November 1, 2022. Previously, Chicora served as vice president of student life and dean of students at Mills College in Oakland, California. A graduate of East Carolina University, Chicora earned a Ph.D. in educational leadership from Colorado State University and a master’s degree in higher education from Florida State University.
The eldest daughter of Taiwanese immigrants, Luoluo (pronounced “lō-lō”) Hong joined the Georgia Institute of Technology as the inaugural Vice President for Student Engagement & Well-Being on August 1st, 2021. To this role, Luoluo brings over 33 years of experience in higher education spanning seven campuses. She came to the Institute from the California State University system where she served for seven years – first as the Vice President for Student Affairs & Enrollment Management and Title IX/Title VI Coordinator at San Francisco State University (2014-2019) and then as the Associate Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs & Enrollment Management in the System Office (2019-2021).
She was also Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs at the University of Hawaiˈi at Hilo from 2008-2014, where she concurrently took on the role of acting Athletic Director for one and a half years. Luoluo began her career at Louisiana State University in Baton Rouge as a health promotion professional (1992-2000). Other senior administrative roles have included Assistant Vice President & Dean of Students at Shepherd College (2000-2002); Dean of Students at the University of Wisconsin-Madison (2002-2005); and Dean of Student Affairs at the West campus for Arizona State University (2005-2007).
At all but one campus where she has worked, Luoluo has taught undergraduate and/or graduate-level courses and been an affiliated faculty member in a variety of disciplines, including Kinesiology, Educational Leadership & Policy Analysis, Psychology, and Criminal Justice & Criminology. Luoluo was also an Associate Professor of Women’s Studies at ASU and earned tenured as an Associate Professor in Public Health Leadership & Education while at UH Hilo. She received an adjunct appointment as Professor of the Practice in the School of Psychology at Georgia Tech in January 2023.
Luoluo holds a BA in Psychology from Amherst College, a Master’s in Public Health from Yale University, and a PhD in Educational Leadership & Research from LSU in Baton Rouge. A nationally sought-after speaker and trainer in the areas of holistic student success, leadership, public health, and belonging, Luoluo has delivered over 3,500 presentations, keynoted over 95 conferences and meetings, and authored several book chapters.
Formerly a consulting editor for the Journal of American College Health (2000-2008) and recognized as a Fellow by the American College Health Association in 2006, Luoluo completed a term as chair for the Pacific West Athletic Conference from 2011-2013. Currently, Luoluo serves as the faculty coordinator for the American College Personnel Association’s Aspiring SSAO Institute; a member of the Women’s Network Executive Council for the American Council on Education; a member of the American College Health Foundation Board; and on the Council on Student Affairs Executive Committee for the Association of Public & Land-Grant Universities.
Luoluo is the proud parent of three rambunctious felines: a lilac point Siamese kitten who loves to snuggle, a highly talkative blue point Siamese, and a flame point Siamese mix who believes he is a dog. Luoluo can occasionally be found masquerading as a level 80 human warlock in World of Warcraft.
Registration
Member rates are available for those who belong to ACUI or NASPA. Registration is through ACUI’s system. A website account is required for registration (free to create). To create one, please select the “Login,” then “New Member? Click Here” to proceed through the process.
Early Registration
(Through June 30)
- ACUI/NASPA Member: $399
- Nonmember: $499
REgular Registration
(July 1–September 30)
- ACUI/NASPA Member: $499
- Nonmember: $599
Late Registration
(After September 30)
- ACUI/NASPA Member: $599
- Nonmember: $699
Travel
Hotel
Courtyard by Marriott Atlanta Decatur Downtown/Emory
130 Clairemont Avenue Decatur, Georgia, USA, 30030
Rate: $189/night
Deadline: November 17
Airport
Closest Airport: Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport (ATL)