Conferences and Leadership Development
AASCU
creates professional development opportunities for member presidents and
chancellors and their spouses and partners, along with complementary programs
and services for the presidential leadership team and for women and
racial/ethnic minorities who aspire to leadership roles. AASCU undertakes a
systematic approach to fostering new leaders who will contribute to academic
quality and educational innovation.
Upcoming Events
Telling Our Story: Leveraging AASCU's Strategic Messaging Website to Tell Your Institution’s Story
August 11, 2022
Webinar at 2 p.m. ET
Earlier this year, AASCU launched a new strategic messaging website,
www.AASCUTellingOurStory.org, featuring downloadable resources, infographics, pre-written tweets, sample messages, and other important communications tools.
Join us on Thurs., Aug. 11, at 2 p.m. ET for the webinar, “Telling Our Story: Leveraging AASCU's Strategic Messaging Website to Tell Your Institution’s Story,” designed to help campus communicators learn more about how the microsite can be utilized to showcase the value of their institutions.
We’ll also share future plans to expand the site for messaging in support of
AASCU’s Presidential Postsecondary Value Commission Task Force.
Register Now
Speakers
- Kellee Edmonds, vice president of
communications and public relations, AASCU
-
Michael Tullier, APR, executive director, Columbus State University (GA), Office of Strategic Communication + Marketing
Who Should Attend
- Chief Communications Officers
- Campus Federal Relations Staff
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Supporting Employees With the Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program
September 07, 2022
Webinar at 12 p.m. ET
AASCU has partnered with the U.S. Department of Education to offer an important and timely webinar on Wednesday, Sept. 7, at 12 p.m. ET about the
Public Service Loan Forgiveness (PSLF) program.
A representative from the Office of Federal Student Aid (FSA) at the U.S. Department of Education will present valuable information about the temporary changes in the PSLF rules.
The webinar will highlight an opportunity available now through Oct. 31, 2022, for borrowers with federal student loans, who may benefit from changes to the PSLF program including:
- Receiving credit for student loan payments that previously did not qualify for PSLF benefit
- Past periods of repayment will now count whether, or not, the borrower made a payment, made that payment on time, for the full amount due, or on a qualifying repayment plan
- Forbearance periods of 12 consecutive months or greater, or 36 cumulative months or greater will count under the waiver
To maximize the number of borrowers who could take advantage of the reduction in the number of student loan payments, the Department is interested in connecting to campus communities to increase awareness of the changes in the rules and expand the number of current campus employees and
college and university alumni who can benefit from PSLF.
Register Now
Speakers

| Ashley Harrington is the senior advisor to the Chief Operating Officer (COO) at the Department of Education’s Office of Federal Student Aid. In this role, she advises the COO on policy implementation, operations, and external communications related to the $1.6 trillion federal student loan portfolio. Prior to joining FSA, Ashley served as federal advocacy director and senior policy counsel at the Center for Responsible Lending (CRL). Ashley led CRL’s federal advocacy efforts, helping to shape fair lending and consumer protection reforms to address racial wealth disparities. Her portfolio included a range of consumer lending issues, with a focus on student debt reform. | |

| Luis Maldonado Vice President of Government Relations and Policy Analysis Luis Maldonado was appointed vice president for government relations and policy analysis at AASCU effective July 8, 2019. He aids the president of AASCU in this position by directing and coordinating activities that advance the mission of the association, serving as the direct liaison with government officials, federal agencies, and other educational organizations to develop policies and positions that support regional comprehensive state colleges and universities. Maldonado has more than 25 years of combined experience in government relations and advocacy efforts with various organizations in the Washington, D.C., region. He has worked in advocacy for three nonprofit organizations, most recently with the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities, in two former positions from 2002–2005 that included serving in a legislative affairs capacity and as chief advocacy officer from 2014–2019, and in senior advocacy positions with the Council on Foundations and the American Diabetes Association. | |
Who Should Attend
- Presidents/Chancellors
- Government Relations Staff
- Human Resources Personnel
- Student Aid Office Representatives
- Alumni Engagement Related Staff
- Other Interested Campus Stakeholders
If you have any questions, please contact AASCU’s vice president for government relations, Luis Maldonado, at
MaldonadoL@aascu.org.
Read More >>
Building a Continuous Improvement Culture (During a Pandemic)
September 13, 2022
Webinar at 2 p.m. ET
How can your institution address your business process needs while minimizing disruption, enhancing the customer experience, and establishing a culture of continuous improvement? In this webinar, speakers from AASCU member California State University San Marcos
(CSUSM) and partner Transforming Solutions Inc. (TSI) will share their keys to obtaining executive buy-in, even in a budget crisis during a global pandemic, and discuss how they worked together to strategically build on-campus consulting capabilities to transform CSUSM.
CSUSM leveraged TSI’s “I DO, WE DO, YOU DO” Business Process Improvement methodology to train, consult with, and coach 35 participants in the practice of business process improvement. This included current state mapping, current state analysis, future state mapping, organizational
context, and the development of the recommended action plan. Over five months of training and actual consulting, 13 action plans for improvement were successfully delivered to 11 different departments across the CSUSM campus. The result is improved efficiency, reduced costs, optimized
resources, substantially increased equity and access (via the DEI analysis lens), and an improved customer experience.
Register Now
Speakers
| Brittani Brown Associate Vice President of Administration
California State University San Marcos Brittani began with the California State University San Marcos (CSUSM) in 2014 as an administrative leader in the procurement and contracts department, followed by three years in facilities development and management. Brown oversees the Vice President’s Office, CSUSM Staff Center, campus policies and procedures, campus delegations, compliance with the California Public Records Act and Clery Act, the Travel Office, the Office of Internal Audit, and the Office of Safety, Health, and Sustainability.
|
| Dan Feely Founder, Managing Director
Transforming Solutions Inc. Dan has led well over 150 business and information technology (IT) transformation projects to realize significant gains by understanding an organization’s current and future business models and then improving its business processes, organizational structure, and use of technology. Feely has led Transforming Solutions Inc. (TSI)'s
projects for significant transformation and constituent experience/process improvement at the University of Chicago (IL), Yale University (CT), University of Illinois, New York University, University of Florida, Georgia Institute of Technology, Illinois State University, University of Memphis (TN),
University of North Texas, California State University System, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, and others. |
| Kyle Glick Senior Consultant
Transforming Solutions Inc. Kyle Glick is a business analyst and senior consultant working for Transforming Solutions Inc. (TSI). Kyle has experience in higher education and, prior to joining TSI, years of experience in distribution, particularly in the food and beverage industry. Whether
serving as a purchasing agent, a quality control manager, or an IT support specialist, his focus has always been on constant improvement through incremental success and precision planning. Glick leverages his diverse background to contribute to TSI projects across services, including project management, business process
improvement, requirements development, software vendor evaluation, strategic planning, organizational change management, and technology assessment projects in a variety of industries. |
| Shannon Honour Shaw Process and Operations Manager, Finance and Administrative Services
California State University San Marcos
Shannon Honour Shaw serves as the process and operations manager in the Office of the Vice President for Finance and Administrative Services at California State University San Marcos (CSUSM). She has held several operational and organizational roles on campus, including leading the functions of travel, budget, and division administrative operations. In her current role, she focuses on organizational development and managing the campus’s new Business Process Improvement training program. Shaw is a proud alum of CSUSM, holding a bachelor’s degree in human development and social science. She also holds a master’s degree in organizational leadership from California Baptist University and a second master’s degree in education from San Diego State University (CA).
|
Who Should Attend
• AASCU members who lead or contribute to any type of process or organizational assessment and improvement, including:
- Provosts/Chief Academic Officers
- Vice Provosts
- Deans and Assistant Deans
- Vice Presidents of Administration/Chief Financial Officers
- Human Resource and Organizational Development Leaders
- Budget and Financial Managers
Read More >>
CAO and CBO Collaborations: Working Together for Financial Sustainability and Equitable Student Success
September 20, 2022 -
September 21, 2022
The Darcy Hotel
Read More >>
AASCU Washington Policy Update
September 29, 2022
Webinar at 12 p.m. ET
AASCU’s government relations team invites you to participate in our bi-monthly (every other month) members-only webinar series. Join us to know what and why things are happening in Washington, D.C.
Register Now
Registration is limited to AASCU members only.
Speakers:

| Luis Maldonado Vice President of Government Relations and Policy Analysis Luis Maldonado was appointed vice president for government relations and policy analysis at AASCU effective July 8, 2019. He aids the president of AASCU in this position by directing and coordinating activities that advance the mission of the association, serving as the direct liaison with government officials, federal agencies, and other educational organizations to develop policies and positions that support regional comprehensive state colleges and universities. Maldonado has more than 25 years of combined experience in government relations and advocacy efforts with various organizations in the Washington, D.C., region. He has worked in advocacy for three nonprofit organizations, most recently with the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities, in two former positions from 2002–2005 that included serving in a legislative affairs capacity and as chief advocacy officer from 2014–2019, and in senior advocacy positions with the Council on Foundations and the American Diabetes Association. |

| John Patrick Walsh Director, Federal Relations & Policy Analysis John Patrick Walsh, AASCU’s director of federal relations and policy analysis, has a wide range of experiences in government relations and federal policy development and advocacy. His professional background includes serving as the chief of staff of the Office of Congressional and Intergovernmental Affairs at the U.S. Department of Labor, as director of federal affairs in the Washington, D.C., office of former Florida Governor Rick Scott, and as transition team leader for the office of former Governor Rick Scott. |
Who Should Attend
Those interested in:
- Government relations
- Community relations
- External relations
Read More >>