A message from the HELLO Community President. One of the most rewarding aspects of working in higher education has always been the opportunity to support the growth of others—helping colleagues strengthen their skills, expand their perspectives, and advance in their careers. That sense of shared progress and collective improvement is what continues to energize my work.
About three years ago, I began attending the annual conference of the American Association of University Administrators (AAUA.org). From the very beginning, it felt like a natural fit. The organization brings together individuals who are deeply committed to making a positive difference in higher education—people who are not only focused on their own development, but equally dedicated to supporting the success of others.
I am grateful for the opportunity to now serve this community in a new capacity, having recently been elected to the AAUA Board. What excites me most about this role is not the position itself, but the opportunity it provides to contribute more meaningfully to work that matters.
AAUA’s approach is grounded in connection and engagement. Through its annual in-person conference, mentoring groups for administrators, scholarly journal, and focused committees and task forces, the organization creates spaces for dialogue, problem-solving, and professional growth around the most pressing challenges facing higher education. AAUA has been in existence since 1970. It is an organization that is big enough to matter but small enough to enable true connections and networking.
In parallel, the Higher Education Leadership Learning Online Community (HELLO Community)—which I have had the privilege to help build—shares a similar mission, but approaches it from a different direction. By leveraging asynchronous collaboration, online networking, and the sharing of knowledge and resources, the HELLO community seeks to accelerate institutional evolution and reduce unnecessary duplication of effort across higher education.
What is particularly energizing is the potential synergism between these two efforts. Each offers a distinct but complementary model for advancing leadership development and institutional effectiveness. I look forward to exploring how the insights and experiences gained through the HELLO Community might contribute to AAUA’s ongoing work—and, equally, how engagement with AAUA can inform and strengthen what we are building within the HELLO community.
As a first step in this new role, I would like to extend an invitation to members of the HELLO Community and those who follow its work to consider engaging with AAUA more directly. This includes attending the upcoming annual conference at Cleveland State this October, centered on the theme “Realizing the Higher Education Value Proposition.”
Equally important, I encourage colleagues to consider sharing their own knowledge and expertise by submitting a presentation proposal. The proposal deadline is April 20, and the conference represents a valuable opportunity to contribute to meaningful conversations shaping our field. Additional details can be found here: https://aaua.org/conference/.
At a time when higher education faces complex and evolving challenges, opportunities for collaboration, shared learning, and collective problem-solving are more important than ever. I am excited to be part of a community that is committed to that work—and to contributing, in whatever ways I can, to the continued growth and success of others in our field.
About HELLO
This forum topic was shared on the Higher Education Leadership Learning Online (HELLO) Community. The HELLO Community is an international, peer-led and peer-fed organization whose vision is “to become the resource of choice for higher-education leaders when seeking practical information about performing their jobs with excellence.”
HELLO aggregates information from articles, books, useful websites, and events; provides a powerful set of networking tools; and hosts an open-source online journal focused on practical solutions to higher-education management and leadership issues. Community membership is required for complete access to resources and is restricted to those who hold, or have held, a higher-education leadership position. There is no cost, no advertising, and no membership data sharing with other organizations.
Useful links:
- Register to become a member (you can quickly register and log in using your LinkedIn or Facebook account)
- 10-minute video overview of the features and tools of the community site
- New member welcome page
- Advisory Board members
