What We All Need to Know About Political Interference will prepare leaders, faculty, and staff to recognize and respond to political interference in education, from laws restricting DEI to funding threats that weaken academic freedom. Participants will gain strategies to safeguard institutional autonomy, build trust and transparency, and foster a culture that protects inclusive values, shared governance, and respectful discourse, while balancing national context with practical tools for action.
Dr. Michael H. Gavin is the President of Delta College. He is the author of two books; the most recent, The New White Nationalism in Politics and Higher Education was released in 2020, and is in paperback as of spring 2023. He leads a national coalition of college presidents and higher education leaders in resisting anti-DEI legislation called Education for All.
Known nationally for his administrative leadership that focuses on academic excellence and equity, Dr. Gavin has over twenty years of experience at large community colleges. Under his leadership, Delta College has increased enrollment, retention, and completion rates and numbers each of the three years he has been president. Delta has also eradicated racial and ethnic enrollment equity gaps; completion rates have increased for all students by 10% and for African American and Hispanic populations by 19 and 20%, respectively. Delta College was the winner of the Delta College Named Eduardo J. Padrón Award for Institutional Transformation Winner under his leadership. Dr. Gavin earned his doctorate in American Studies at University of Maryland and most recently completed an Aspen Fellowship in Community College presidency.
Whether serving on national or local boards, working on a committee, or through his scholarship, Dr. Gavin is committed to the notion that community colleges have the capacity to reshape the inequities in society through open access education and teaching excellence.
This training would center on how leaders can maintain steadiness, adaptability, and clarity when political or social climates create instability. The goal is to help leaders sustain both their effectiveness and their well-being while guiding others through turbulence.
Stephanie J. Fujii, Ph.D. is a passionate, outcomes-oriented, leader with over 30+ years higher education experience in student affairs, instruction, and workforce/career and technical education. Prior to moving to administration, she was tenured faculty, division chair, and faculty senate president. Past administrative experience include service as a system/district level director leading and facilitating instructional support services and programs between ten colleges, a college workforce dean, and a vice president of academic affairs. She has presented nationally on the topics of diversity, equity, and inclusion, student retention/persistence, college counseling, and student development. Currently, she is the president of Arapahoe Community College (ACC) in Littleton, Colorado.
In this engaging 60-minute session on Deep Change Management, Keisha will explore two powerful tools for navigating today’s educational landscape: Emotional Intelligence and Crucial Conversations. Participants will learn how to recognize and regulate emotions during times of change, build trust through authentic communication, and approach difficult conversations with clarity and empathy. Using real-world examples from higher education, Keisha will guide attendees through strategies that strengthen leadership, foster collaboration, and move teams from resistance to action. This session equips educators and leaders with practical skills to create sustainable, people-centered change.
Keisha Jones is a seasoned higher education leader, consultant, and educator with a passion for driving authentic change in organizations. As a Vice President of Student Affairs for a community college, she leads strategic initiatives that foster belonging, leadership development, and equity. Through her consulting firm, By Design Consulting, LLC (Consulting with Keisha), she partners with national organizations, local entities, and community groups to design solutions that support growth and transformation. She also leads The Authentic Life, Inc., her nonprofit dedicated to empowering women. Keisha is a sought-after speaker and coach known for her engaging, practical, and transformative approach.
To equip boards of trustees and senior leadership teams (cabinet members) with strategies to align governance and operational leadership in ways that safeguard institutional mission, values, and culture during politically charged times.
Dr. Kim Bobby is a nationally recognized higher education leader with deep expertise in executive search, inclusive leadership, and institutional transformation. She has partnered with boards, presidents, and university systems to advance equity-driven leadership and served as Senior Advisor for AGB’s Justice, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion initiative. Previously, she directed the Inclusive Excellence Group at the American Council on Education, advancing women and people of color into senior roles, with dozens rising to presidencies and vice presidencies. Her career includes service as the University of Puget Sound’s first Chief Diversity Officer, Chief of Staff at Prince George’s Community College, and senior K–12 leadership roles driving systemic reform.
This training would emphasize the leader’s role in shaping a culture that can withstand division and remain aligned to shared values. The aim is to prepare leaders not only to respond to conflict but to actively cultivate trust, belonging, and forward momentum even in divisive contexts.
Stephanie J. Fujii, Ph.D. is a passionate, outcomes-oriented, leader with over 30+ years higher education experience in student affairs, instruction, and workforce/career and technical education. Prior to moving to administration, she was tenured faculty, division chair, and faculty senate president. Past administrative experience include service as a system/district level director leading and facilitating instructional support services and programs between ten colleges, a college workforce dean, and a vice president of academic affairs. She has presented nationally on the topics of diversity, equity, and inclusion, student retention/persistence, college counseling, and student development. Currently, she is the president of Arapahoe Community College (ACC) in Littleton, Colorado.
Engaging Donors and Philanthropic Support During Challenging Times Colleges are navigating complex challenges with increasing uncertainty of state and federal funding while student needs continue to grow. In times like these, philanthropy plays a vital role in sustaining our mission and advancing student success. This session will explore strategies to meaningfully engage donors and friends of the college during uncertain times. Together, we will discuss how to: Leverage the current moment to strengthen relationships with donors. Communicate impact and urgency in ways that inspire support. Highlight the transformative difference philanthropic giving makes for students. Identify opportunities to align donor passion with institutional priorities.
Joianne L. Smith, Ph.D., is Oakton College's fourth president. She is dedicated to promoting an inclusive and caring environment for teaching and learning. President Smith is committed to ensuring every student has access to life- changing educational opportunities in a welcoming environment. Under President Smith's leadership, the college adopted its "Vision 2030: Building Just and Thriving Communities: strategic plan, containing the strategic priorities of: strengthening the student experience, advancing racial equity, and enhancing workforce readiness and community engagement. Smith earned her Ph.D. and M.S. degrees in Counseling Psychology from Virginia Commonwealth University after earning her B.A. degree from Wittenberg University.
As higher education institutions face mounting stressors, from campus protests and changing immigration policy to disrupted funding streams and widespread burnout. Colleges must respond not only with policy, but with humanity. This session explores how one public, urban institution grounded in a culture of care mobilized cross-campus, low-cost strategies to restore connection, reduce stress, and support both students and employees through an especially turbulent year. This session will share concrete examples of programs, practices, and communication strategies that supported wellness, belonging, and institutional trust. Participants will leave with a set of replicable ideas to expand opportunities for care-centered community-building on their own campuses.
Dr. Christine Mangino serves as the sixth president for Queensborough Community College of the City University of New York. Coming up through the ranks of faculty, she served as department chair, Dean for Faculty and Curriculum, and Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs at Hostos Community College. Earlier in her career, President Mangino was a pre-school and elementary school teacher. As the first person in her family to attend college, Dr. Mangino earned an Associates of Applied Arts at Nassau Community College, a bachelor’s and master’s degree in elementary education at Hofstra University, and a doctoral degree in Instructional Leadership at St. John’s University.
Since starting her tenure at Queensborough Community College, she led the college in the creation of their first five-year strategic plan, established a Truth, Transformation and Racial Healing Center, a Men’s Resource Center, and an equity dashboard for the campus to follow their progress in eliminating equity gaps for faculty, staff, and students. Dr. Mangino serves as a Middle States Commission on Higher Education peer evaluator, on the Commission on Research and Community College Trends and Issues for the American Association for Community Colleges, as a board member for the Higher Education Research and Development Institute, on the Steering Committee for the Research Alliance for NYC Schools, and as an alum of the Aspen Presidential Fellowship for Community College Excellence, a leadership program that prepares community college presidents to transform institutions to achieve high and equitable levels of student success.
