Keynote Speaker: Dr. Lori S. White
Dr. Lori S. White assumed the role of president of DePauw University on July 1, 2020. She has an impressive 40-year career in higher education, having served in leadership positions at several prestigious institutions, including Washington University in St. Louis, Southern Methodist University, the University of Southern California, Stanford University, Georgetown University, San Diego State University and the University of California, Irvine.
Through deep collaboration with the Board of Trustees, the three School Advisory Boards, the President’s Cabinet, and faculty, staff and student leadership, Dr. White continues to champion the value of liberal arts education while leading the institution toward a more inclusive, innovative and sustainable future.
Dr. White currently serves on the Association of Governing Boards’ Council of Presidents, the Board of Directors of the Council of Independent Colleges, the Board of Directors of Independent Colleges of Indiana, as the Vice President of the Executive Committee of the North Coast Athletic Conference and as the Vice President of the Great Lakes Colleges Association.
Born and raised in San Francisco, the daughter of a registered nurse and of a professor of psychology, Dr. White’s academic journey began at the University of California, Berkeley, where she earned her undergraduate degree in psychology and English. She then went on to obtain her Ph.D. from Stanford University in education administration and policy analysis, with an emphasis on higher education.
Spotlight Speakers
Allison M. Vaillancourt, PhD, is a vice president in Segal’s Organizational Strategy and Transformation practice. In addition to advising colleges and universities on complex organizational challenges that include leadership effectiveness, organizational culture and design, and change management, she is an executive coach. Her work is informed by previous senior executive and faculty leadership experience in research universities across the United States.
Dr. Alexandria White is the CEO of Alexandria White Consulting LLC and serves as a Training Specialist for the Mississippi Small Business Development Center. She brings more than 20 years of experience delivering training in diversity, leadership, and social justice, and advises organizations on building more diverse, inclusive, and equitable workplaces. Her clients include HumanGood, Cisco, Samsung, EY, agilon health, and firms in the private equity sector.
Dr. White is the founder of S.A.M.S. (Student Affairs MomS), the largest online community supporting mothers working in the student affairs profession. As a student affairs professional, she has held leadership roles in housing, serving as both a director and live-on staff member. She holds a bachelor’s degree from Indiana University, a master’s degree from Ball State University, and an EdD from the University of Mississippi, where she also serves as adjunct faculty in the School of Education.
In addition to her consulting and academic work, Dr. White has been featured on podcasts including Working Capital Review, Diversity Like Me, The Inner Circle, and The Confidence Factor. In February 2025, she completed her latest book, The Magic of S.A.M.S.: Powerful Stories of Mothers Working in Higher Education.
An emerging AI strategist, Dr. White helps entrepreneurs and organizations adopt artificial intelligence. She is a graduate of the AI for SBDC Advisors program and holds Google’s AI Essentials certification. Originally from Chicago, she resides in Oxford, Mississippi, is the mother of one daughter, and enjoys adventurous activities such as skydiving, parasailing, and ziplining.
Additional Speakers
Knowing the Work, Knowing the Field, Knowing the Institution: The Leadership Advantage
Wednesday, November 04, 2026
Ashley Dobbs, Ed.D.
Assistant Director, Staff & Community Development, Georgia Institute of Technology
Panel: Power, Position, and Influence Across Career Levels
Wednesday, November 04, 2026
Alexis Monteiro
Residence Hall Director, University of Connecticut
Panel: Power, Position, and Influence Across Career Levels
Wednesday, November 04, 2026
Alli Adams-Hurtado, Ed.D.
Associate Director of Housing & Residence Life, Kennesaw State University
ProDevo 101: Creating an Intentional Professional Development Plan
Thursday, November 05, 2026
Dave Arnold
Assistant Director of Inclusion and Talent Development, University of Illinois – Urbana Champaign
Knowing the Work, Knowing the Field, Knowing the Institution: The Leadership Advantage
Wednesday, November 04, 2026
Nequel Burwell, Ed.D.
Director of Residence Life, University of North Carolina, Charlotte
Panel: Power, Position, and Influence Across Career Levels
Wednesday, November 04, 2026
Nyerere Tryman
Executive Director of University Housing, Auburn University
Panel: Power, Position, and Influence Across Career Levels
Wednesday, November 04, 2026
Emmarica Yamoah
Residence Coordinator, Florida State University
Panel: Power, Position, and Influence Across Career Levels
Wednesday, November 04, 2026
Demarcus Merritt
Assistant Director of Residence Life, George Mason University
Panel: Power, Position, and Influence Across Career Levels
Wednesday, November 04, 2026
Lisa Freeman
Executive Director, On-Campus Living, Johns Hopkins University
The Higher Education Challenge: Navigating Campus Politics
Wednesday, November 04, 2026
Troy Gonsalves
Associate Director of Residential Life – Community Standards and Staff Engagement, Northeastern University
The Higher Education Challenge: Navigating Campus Politics
Wednesday, November 04, 2026
Chong Kim-Wong, Ed.D.
Vice Chancellor and Dean of Students, Northeastern University
Beyond the Job Description: Navigating Systems, Strategy, and the Path to Leadership
Thursday, November 05, 2026
D’Najah Pendergrass Thomas
Director, The Placement Exchange
Beyond the Job Description: Navigating Systems, Strategy, and the Path to Leadership
Thursday, November 05, 2026
Alma Sealine
Assistant Vice Chancellor and Executive Director of University Housing, University of Illinois, Urbana Champaign
Beyond the Job Description: Navigating Systems, Strategy, and the Path to Leadership
Thursday, November 05, 2026
Kathy Bush Hobgood
Senior Associate Vice President for Student Affairs, Clemson University
Beyond the Job Description: Navigating Systems, Strategy, and the Path to Leadership
Thursday, November 05, 2026
Phil Badaszewski, Ph.D.
Executive Director of Housing and Residence Life, University of Delaware
Beyond the Job Description: Navigating Systems, Strategy, and the Path to Leadership
Thursday, November 05, 2026
Kyle Boone, Ph.D.
Executive Director of Housing and Residence Life, University of Texas – Arlington
Search Better: Identity, Purpose, and Storytelling in the Job Search
Thursday, November 05, 2026
Yolande Graham, Ph.D.
Director of Residential Learning, Clemson University
With Great Power . . . a Comic-Modeled Way to Re-Evaluate Ourselves and Our Work
Thursday, November 05, 2026
Coree Burton
Assistant Director of Community Education and Engagement, Purdue University