Events
Mid-Level Leadership Summit
Leading Beyond the Middle
14 March 2027 • Toronto, ON, Canada prior to ACPA27
The Mid-Level Leadership Summit, sponsored by the Mid-Level Community of Practice, is a leadership development experience designed as a supplement to the Donna M. Bourassa Mid-Level Management Institute (MMI). This intensive one-day pre-conference program will build upon the reflective, justice-centered foundation of MMI while shifting focus toward systems-level leadership, institutional influence, and legacy-building in student affairs.
As mid-level leaders navigate increasingly complex environments—marked by political tensions, diminished resources, and evolving professional identities— the Mid-Level Leadership Summit equips them with the tools to lead change with clarity, courage, and collective purpose.
We hope attendees will leave
with the ability to…
- analyze and map individual networks and spheres of influence within your institutional ecosystems to identify levers, mechanisms, and pathways for making and sustaining change.
- practice advanced communication skills, partnership development, and coalition-building strategies, particularly in resistant or politically charged contexts, in one-on-one, small group, and large group settings.
- identify and apply change leadership frameworks to current organizational models, leadership structures, and departmental challenges using the Social Change Ecosystem and Bridges Transition Model.
- reflect on one’s individual leadership legacy, one’s individual career trajectory, and the sustainability of one’s work at their home institution and within the field.
- connect and/or reconnect with the MMI faculty and cohort members to reignite or redefine one’s purpose and to strengthen and enhance one’s professional network.
Who should
attend…
Any mid-level professional seeking support with the focus areas of the program. We define mid-level professionals as those who have more than five years of professional experience in higher education who are not senior-level professionals. We especially encourage alumni of the Donna M. Bourassa Mid-Level Management Institute (whether virtual or in a pre-2021 format) to attend, although previous MMI attendance is certainly not required.
Registration Information
$225
$325
consider becoming a member of ACPA to save $100 on your registration price!
Registrations can be paid by check, VISA, MasterCard, Discover, or American Express. All fees must be prepaid. Purchase orders are not accepted. Refunds will be given for cancellations received in writing at ACPA by 12 February 2027, less a $50 cancellation fee. Cancellations must be sent to info@acpa.nche.edu. After 12 February 2027, there are no refunds. ACPA reserves the right to charge a service fee of US$50 for returned checks. Registrations can be transferred to another participant with the same membership type for a $50 processing fee prior to 26 February 2027. The conference may be canceled or postponed due to insufficient enrollment or other unforeseen circumstances. In this case, the fees will be fully refunded; however, ACPA will not be responsible for other additional costs, charges or expenses, including cancellation/change charges assessed by airlines and/or travel agencies.
Hotel Information:
The Mid-Level Leadership Summit will occur in the Metro Toronto Convention Center facilities prior to the beginning of ACPA27. Hotel accommodations are available through the ACPA27 Convention hotels.
Schedule-at-a-Glance
*all times listed in Eastern Time
sunday, 14 March 2027
|
9:00–9:30 AM |
Welcome & Reconnection |
Opening circle, land acknowledgment, revisiting our “MMI roots” |
|
9:30–10:45 AM |
Power Mapping for Institutional Influence |
Hands-on workshop where participants map their role, relationships, and resistance points |
|
11:00–12:15 PM |
Brave Leading in Constrained Contexts |
Facilitated dialogue and skill-building on navigating anti-DEI environments, burnout culture, and organizational resistance |
|
12:15–1:15 PM |
Lunch & Peer Coaching Circles |
Lightly guided coaching conversations based on pre-submitted challenges |
|
1:15–2:30 PM |
Leadership Legacy & Sustainability Reflection |
Reflective session on career impact, values, and boundaries—what kind of leader do you want to be next? |
|
2:45–4:00 PM |
Systems-Level Change Lab |
Group design challenge: apply change frameworks to a real institutional issue submitted by participants |
|
4:00–5:00 PM |
Closing Commitments & Community Ritual |
Sharing intentions, cohort photo, and setting goals for continued leadership |
|
5:00–5:30 PM |
Reception (optional) |
Light snacks and reconnecting with other MMI alumni arriving for Convention |