Greetings!

As 2026 gets underway, Student Affairs professionals across the country continue to rise with resilience, creativity, and care. Even amid shifting enrollment patterns, expanding student needs, and a rapidly evolving policy landscape, your work is shaping healthier, more supportive, and more vibrant campuses every single day. With the semester now in full swing—and NASPA 2026 right around the corner—we hope this message reaches you energized, steady, and connected to the purpose that brought you into this meaningful field. 

This edition of our newsletter is crafted with you in mind. Inside, you’ll find updates on current and upcoming leadership searches across the student affairs landscape, along with insights into emerging opportunities nationwide. We also invite you to explore the full range of openings on the WittKieffer website, where our continually growing portfolio highlights the roles and leaders helping shape the future of the profession. 

If any of these positions align with your aspirations—or if you know emerging or established leaders who would thrive in these environments—we would welcome your referrals and conversation. Now more than ever, institutions need strong, student-centered leadership, and we’re honored to support that work alongside you.

 
  • Georgia State University: Vice President for Student Engagement 
  • Lindenwood University: Vice President of Student Affairs 
  • Prairie View A&M University: Vice President for Student Affairs 
  • University at Albany: Director of Residential Life 
  • University of California Davis: Director of Counseling Services 
  • University of Maryland, College Park: Director of STAMP Student Union 
  • University of St. Thomas: Vice President for Student Affairs
Open Positions
 

2026 NASPA Annual Conference Activities
 

NASPA will be a whirlwind for our Jen Meyers Pickard, Ph.D., WittKieffer's Student Affairs Practice Leader, and Consultant Christy Pratt.
  • Jen will be presenting:
    Leadership Pathways: Making the Leap from Senior Student Affairs Officer to President
    • John Hoffman, President, Bemidji State University and President, Northwest Technical College
    • Jen Meyers Pickard, Senior Partner, WittKieffer
    • Eileen Sullivan, Specialist Leader, Deloitte Consulting
    • Lawrence Ward, President, University of Hartford
    • Lori White, President, DePauw University
  • Christy will be meeting with those interested in our open searches. Please reach out to us to set up a time for a confidential meet up!

Resources

We continue to feature great guests for our Impactful Leaders Podcasts. Below are some of the recent leaders we've gotten to know better: 
  • Sharing the Sunshine in Student Affairs: NASPA's Amelia Parnell, Ph.D., and Michael Christakis, Ph.D.
  • Enrollment Leadership – A Love Story: NACAC's Angel Pérez, Ph.D.
  • A Bold, Business-first Perspective on HR in Higher Education: OSU Interim CHRO Amanda Bailey
  • Breaking Down Borders and Building Up Leaders in Global Higher Education: AIEA CEO Clare Overmann

As you consider leadership opportunities, we encourage you to consider insights below from our WittKieffer consultants:   
  • Building Your Reference List for Higher Education Leadership Roles 
  • The Cover Letter: Valuable Real Estate for Your Application 
  • The CV and Cover Letter: A Strategic Partnership 
  • Making the Move – Is it Right for Me, for My Family?  

What we do

WittKieffer's expertise, process, and people ensure outstanding outcomes, as evidenced by over 120 successful student affairs and success leadership searches over the past five years. We are well known in Student Affairs executive search, placing Vice Presidents, Deans of Students, and Associate/Assistant Vice Presidents, as well as Director, Executive Director, and Associate/Assistant Dean of Students searches with an emphasis on residential life, fraternity and sorority life, health and wellness, Title IX compliance, and student belonging and inclusion, to name a few areas of expertise. Additionally, WittKieffer has stellar capabilities in Interim Leadership and Leadership Advisory services, ranging from coaching and assessment to succession planning and transition support. 

We hope you'll consider us as you look to strengthen your team, and we encourage you to reach out to Jen Meyers Pickard to learn more. 

Please stay connected with us at studentaffairs@wittkieffer.com. Thank you again for the work you do to enrich the lives of students and the entire community at your institutions. Spring is on the way! 

With very best wishes, 

Jen Meyers Pickard, Ph.D., Senior Partner and Student Affairs Practice Leader