Postsecondary Value Symposium
Centering Student Success, Enhancing Strategies, and Inspiring Action
Amid shifting public perceptions of higher education and ongoing questions about the value of a degree, lead the charge by making value the strategy.
This symposium is designed to be highly interactive, featuring hands-on workshops, dynamic panel discussions, and collaborative working sessions that invite participants to actively engage with peers and experts. Attendees will gain practical tools, such as toolkits, resource guides, and proven strategies, that can be applied immediately within their institutions. Every session is built to spark new ideas and drive results. From leveraging alumni perspectives to aligning value with institutional planning, the symposium will equip participants with the resources and confidence to strengthen their value proposition, communicate student outcomes more effectively, and implement initiatives that create lasting impact.
Who should attend:
- Presidents and chancellors
- Executive cabinet members
- Alumni engagement professionals
- Career services professionals
Attendees will:
- Receive tools, resources, and proven practices to strengthen your campus value proposition, including AASCU’s Making Value the Strategy: Infusing the Postsecondary Value Framework Into Strategic Planning and Leveraging Alumni Voices to Drive Value: A Starter Kit for Campus Leaders
- Hear alumni perspectives to inform value-based storytelling
- Develop value strategies with your institution and peer regional public universities (RPUs)
- Connect with philanthropic thought leaders on a shared vision for postsecondary value and the leadership role of RPUs
Schedule at a glance
5-6 p.m.
Welcome Reception
6-7 p.m.
Dinner
- Charles L. Welch, President and CEO, American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU)
7-7:20 p.m.
Fireside Chat
- Charles L. Welch, President and CEO, American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU)
- Mildred Garcia, Chancellor, California State University System
7-8 p.m.
Ask Me Anything
- Charles L. Welch, President and CEO, American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU)
- Luis Maldonado, Vice President of Government Relations and Policy Analysis, AASCU
7:30-8:30 a.m.
Breakfast
8:30-8:50 a.m.
Welcome and Introductions
- Charles L. Welch, President and CEO, AASCU
- Leticia Maldonado, Director of Postsecondary Initiatives, AASCU
- Karusha Naidoo, Assistant Vice President of Leadership Development, AASCU
8:50-9:20 a.m.
The Imperative of Postsecondary Value
- Jamey Rorison, Senior Program Officer, Gates Foundation
9:20-9:30 a.m.
Break
9:30-11 a.m.
Voices from the Field: Alumni Perspectives on Postsecondary Value
- Bobbie Anderson, Vice President for Student Success , Metropolitan State University (MN)
- Bill Baldus, Director of the Career Center, Metropolitan State University (MN)
- Deborah L. Ford, Chancellor, Indiana University Southeast
- Charles Guzowski, Director of Advancement Information Systems, Oakland University (MI)
- Felicia Hernandez, Director of Alumni Relations, California State University, Dominguez Hills
- Leticia Maldonado, Director of Postsecondary Value Initiatives, AASCU
- Wayne Thibodeau, Senior Director, Career & Life Design Center, Oakland University (MI)
- Uric Dufrene, Executive Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs
11-11:15 a.m.
Break
11:15 a.m.-12:45 p.m.
Making Value the Strategy: Infusing the Postsecondary Framework into Strategic Planning
- Matt Ceppi, Vice President for Strategic Development Managing Director, AASCU Consulting
- Mari Fuentes-Martin, Vice President for Student Affairs, San José State University
- Scott R. Furlong, Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs, State University of New York at Oswego
- Junius John Gonzales, Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs, Montclair State University (NJ)
- John Jasinski, Senior Consultant, AASCU
- Timothy Mottet, Senior Consultant, AASCU
- Peter Nwosu, President, State University of New York at Oswego
- Michael A. Palladino, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, Stockton University (NJ)
- Henoc Preciado, Head of Staff, Bemidji State University (MN)
- Cynthia Teniente-Matson, President, San José State University
12:45-1:45 p.m.
Networking Lunch
1:45-2:05 p.m.
AASCU Resource Spotlight: Tools to Tell Your Value Story
- Jose Cabrales, Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, AASCU
- Karusha Naidoo, Assistant Vice President of Leadership Development, AASCU
2:05-3 p.m.
Driving Value through Student Success: Building Conditions for Institutional Transformation
- Jacquelyn Jones, Assistant Vice President for Student Success, AASCU
- Lynn Brabender, Senior Director, Student Success and Service Provision, AASCU
3-3:15 p.m.
Break
3:15-4:15 p.m.
Strategic Alignment: Philanthropy’s Shared Vision for Postsecondary Value
- Michelle Asha Cooper, Vice President, Public Policy & Executive Director, Lumina Foundation
- Jamey Rorison, Senior Program Officer, Gates Foundation
- Ruth Watkins, President of Postsecondary Education, Strada Education Foundation
4:15-4:40 p.m.
Participant Roundtable: Turning Symposium Insights into Action for Advancing Postsecondary Value
- Leticia Maldonado, Director of Postsecondary Initiatives, AASCU
- Karusha Naidoo, Assistant Vice President of Leadership Development, AASCU
4:40-5 p.m.
Closing
- Charles L. Welch, President and CEO, AASCU
- Leticia Maldonado, Director of Postsecondary Initiatives, AASCU
- Karusha Naidoo, Assistant Vice President of Leadership Development, AASCU
5-6 p.m.
Closing Reception
Confirmed Speakers & Facilitators
Bobbie
Anderson
Vice President for Student Success
Metro State University (MN)
William
Baldus
Director of the Career Center
Metro State University (MN)
Lynn
Brabender
Senior Director, Student Success and Service Provision
AASCU
José A.
Cabrales
Vice President and Chief Operating Officer
AASCU
Matt
Ceppi
Vice President of Strategic Development and Managing Director, AASCU Consulting
AASCU
Michelle Asha
Cooper
Vice President for Public Policy and Executive Director
Lumina Foundation
Uric
Dufrene
Executive Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs
Indiana University Southeast
Mari
Fuentes-Martin
Vice President of Student Success and Engagement
San Jose State University (CA)
Deborah L.
Ford
Chancellor
Indiana University Southeast
Scott R.
Furlong
Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs
State University of New York at Oswego
Mildred
García
Chancellor
California State University System
Junius
Gonzales
Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs
Montclair State University (NJ)
Charles
Guzowski
Director of Advancement Information Systems
Oakland University (MI)
Marah
Jacobson
Provost & Vice President for Academic Affairs
Bemidji State University (MN)
John
Jasinski
Senior Consultant
AASCU Consulting
Jacquelyn
Jones
Assistant Vice President for Student Success
AASCU
Felicia
Hernandez
Director of Alumni Relations
California State University, Dominguez Hills
Leticia
Maldonado
Director of Postsecondary Value Initiatives
AASCU
Luis
Maldonado
Vice President of Government Relations and Policy Analysis
AASCU
Timothy
Mottet
Senior Consultant
AASCU Consulting
Karusha
Naidoo
Assistant Vice President of Leadership Development
AASCU
Peter O.
Nwosu
President
State University of New York at Oswego
Michael
Palladino
Provost & Vice President for Academic Affairs
Stockton University (NJ)
Henoc
Preciado
Head of Staff
Bemidji State University (MN)
Jamey
Rorison
Senior Program Officer
Gates Foundation
Cynthia
Teniente-Matson
President
San José State University (CA)
Wayne
Thibodeau
Senior Director, Career & Life Design Center
Oakland University (MI)
Ruth
V. Watkins
President, Postsecondary Education
Strada Education Foundation
Charles L.
Welch
President and CEO
AASCU
Registration & Accomodations
Registration
- $250 AASCU members
- $500 non-members
Accommodations
Sofitel Washington DC Lafayette Square
806 15th Street, NW
Washington, D.C., 20005
Room rate: $299 plus 15.95% tax per night
Check-in Time 4 pm /Check-out Time 11 am
Symposium Partner
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