Thank you for stopping by to learn more about the ACPA Senior-Level Community of Practice (SLCoP). We are thrilled to have your voice and energy in helping us support the mission of ACPA and the SLCoP. Take the time to look through our pages and don’t hesitate to tell us how you want to get involved today.
Please contact us at SLCOP@ACPA.nche.edu or connect with the members of our Directorate Body with questions or ideas.
Our Mission
ACPA’s Senior-Level Community of Practice (SLCoP) engages senior-level higher education professionals through purposeful relationship building, identifying and collaborating around emerging issues in higher education, and creating and sharing signature professional development experiences.
our vision
ACPA’s Senior-Level Community of Practice is higher education’s most engaging, supportive, and connected community for senior-level colleagues across the profession.
brief history
1961 // President-elect Melvene D. Hardee creates the ACPA Commission system with Gordon Klopf during the summer of 1961. The Commissions were activated to develop the 1963 Boston, MA (US) convention program. Originally, 12 Commissions were established, with the modern-day Senior-Level Community of Practice created as “Organization, Administration, and Development of Student Personnel Programs – Commission I.”
1980 // Commission I shares The Management Primer, a new publication from the commission, with more that 600 graduate student attendees of the national convention in Boston, MA (US).
1983 // Commission I and Commission VIII (Student Health Programs) co-sponsor the “Task Force for Handicapped Services,” precursor to Standing Committee for Disability (2000) and the current Coalition for (Dis)Ability (2016). From 1989 until 1996, the Task Force operated as a group within Commission I.
1986 // Under the leadership of President Charles Schroeder, Commission I officially renamed the Commission for Administrative Leadership in November of 1986 during the mid-year Executive Council meetings held in St. Louis, MO (US).
2011 // CAL celebrates 50 years of service to at the ACPA11 Convention in Baltimore, MD (US).
2020 // The Commission for Administrative Leadership begins coordination of the Senior-Level Support Network, monthly conversations with those in leadership across institutional size, type, and location to address current and emerging issues in higher education.
2021 // The ACPA Governing Board approves transitioning the Commission for Administrative Leadership into the new ACPA Senior-Level Community of Practice.
how we define Senior-Level Professional
ACPA’s Senior-Level Community of Practice (SLCoP) defines senior-level professionals as those who serve in senior roles by position title. Included are colleagues with titles from ‘Director,’ up to and encompassing top-level titles like, ‘Vice President,’ ‘Vice Chancellor,’ ‘Provost,’ and ‘President or Chancellor.’ Included are all higher education professionals who serve in the Senior Student Affairs Officer (SSAO) role, regardless of institutional title, institutional size, type, or structure. Additionally, SLCoP seeks to serve higher education colleagues who might self-identify as a senior professional based on years of service, regardless of their current position title or responsibilities. Although primarily focused on the needs of the aforementioned professionals, and in line with ACPA’s commitment to continuous professional development and personal growth, SLCoP welcomes all members of ACPA who are interested in our work and who might aspire to a senior-level role in higher education.
Senior-Level Support Network
The ACPA Senior-Level Community of Practice coordinates and hosts the ACPA Senior-Level Support Network. Our monthly conversations exist to discuss concerns and issues facing those in leadership positions across institutional size, type, and location. These low-key conversations are broadly themed with space for additional topics, relationship building, and unique or shared questions. Conversations are scheduled for the 3rd Thursday of each month at 3:00pm ET. Pre-registration required. Register to receive the access link(s) to the monthly conversations taking place.
News & Updates
Submit to Present in the Growing Knowledge Series!
Recently successfully defended your dissertation? Undecided about working toward an article, but looking for a way to share your dissertation scholarship? Never published your recent dissertation research? The Growing Knowledge Series is for YOU!! This new offering...
Season 4: ACPA Senior-Level Support Network
Season 4: ACPA Senior-Level Support Network We are so excited to be back for our fourth season of the SLSN series! The ACPA Senior-Level Community of Practice (SLCoP) is excited to announce the fourth season of the Senior-Level Support Network. Launched in 2020 in...
SLCOP Award Recipients
Our association, and higher education as a whole, would not be where it is today without the work of professionals and scholars at every level and from every institutional type. We are honored to be able to recognize the amazing work of our colleagues listed here....
Growing Knowledge Series Webinars Library
"When the World Stopped": How undergraduate women leaders developed their identities during unanticipated transition. July 31, 2023.
upcoming SLCOP events
SLCoP: 2023-2024 Senior Level Support Network
The ACPA Senior-Level Community of Practice (SLCoP) coordinates and hosts the Senior-Level Support Network (SLSN). These monthly conversations with colleagues in leadership roles offer a space to discuss concerns and […]
Find out more »SLCoP Webinar: Implementing A Professional Fellowship Program: Learning Pathways for Career Progression
The presenters will highlight how, as mid-level managers, they built and implemented a professional fellowship program for student affairs and student service professionals on their campus to engage in intentional […]
Find out more »SLCoP Webinar: Centering Curiosity and Humanity in Assessment: The Inquiry-based Praxis Model
A comprehensive system of assessment is not a checklist of one-off assessment activities. It is its own way of thinking about our work, of making sense of our peoples' experiences […]
Find out more »Meet the Directorate
Juliette Duke
Chair
she/her/hers
Senior Director – University Housing, Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo
Troy L. Seppelt, Ed.D.
Past Chair
he/him/his
Assistant Vice Chancellor and Dean of Students, University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point
Lorraine Acker
Coordinator - Membership and SSAO Relations
she/her/hers
Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs, SUNY Brockport
Brett Bruner
Coordinator - Membership and SSAO Relations
he/him/his
Assistant Vice President for Student Success & Persistence, Wichita State University
Wendy Bruun, Ed.D.
Coordinator - Webinar and Endorsed Programs
she/her/hers
Associate Vice President for Student Success and Academic Partnerships, Northern Arizona University
Juliette Daniels, Ed.D.
Coordinator - Senior Level Support Network
she/her/hers
Assistant Dean for Student Services & Enrollment Management, University of Detroit Mercy
Lee Hawthorne, Ph.D.
Coordinator - Senior Level Support Network
she/her/hers
Chief of Staff to the Vice Provost for Student Affairs, Johns Hopkins University
LaMarcus Howard, Ph.D.
Coordinator - Outreach, Communication, and Recognition
he/him/his
Assistant Vice Chancellor, Student Health and Wellness, North Carolina Central University
Matthew Le Brasseur
Coordinator - Webinar and Endorsed Programs
he/him/his
Director, University Life & The Student Experience, The Chicago School of Professional Psychology
Ben Morton
Coordinator - Growing Knowledge Series
he/him/his
Dean of Students, University of Alaska Anchorage
Lindy Stein
Coordinator - Outreach, Communication, and Recognition
she/her/hers
Dean of Students, Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design
Amanda Thomas
Coordinator - Strategic Initiatives and Assessment
she/her/hers
Executive Director of Assessment and Planning, West Chester University
Past Leadership
Many amazing colleagues have called Commision I, the Commission for Administrative Leadership, and the Senior-Level Community of Practice their professional home within ACPA. We honor their service and are thankful for all they contributed. Here is the list of colleagues who have served as Chair of Commission I, the Commission for Administrative Leadership, and now the ACPA Senior-Level Community of Practice (SLCoP).
2023-2025 – Juliette Duke
2020-2023 – Troy L. Seppelt
2018-2020 – Gwen Schimek-Tischler
2016-2018 – Tricia Schwery Smith
2014-2016 – Francy Magee
2012-2014 – Melinda S. Farmer
2010-2012 – Timothy W. Gordon
2008-2010 – Kent Sampson
2006-2008 – Laura Bayless
2004-2006 – Steven C. Sutton
2002-2004 – William Wilson
2000-2002 – Timothy J. Pierson
1998-2000 – Carla E. Jones
1996-1998 – Tom Jackson, Jr
1994-1996 – Deborrah Hebert
1992-1994 – Sue Saunders
1990-1992 – Jean Paratore
1988-1990 – Sally Watson
1986-1988 – D. David Ostroth
1984-1986 – Arthur Shriberg
1982-1984 – Frederick R. Brodzinski
1980-1982 – Thomas J. Grites
1978-1980 – Jay R. Stormer
1976-1978 – David T. Borland
1974-1976 – William A. Bryan
1974 – Jack L. Churchill
1972-1974 – Robert Lawrence
1969-1972 – Robert Matron
1967-1969 – John J. Wittich
1966-1967 – Burns Crookston
1961- Commission I Created
Get Involved in slcop
The Senior-Level Community of Practice (SLCoP) is always looking for interested colleagues or nominees for it’s next class of Directorate Body leaders. If you are interested in becoming more involved with SLCoP, and would like to help shape the direction in which we will move in the future, apply to become a member of the directorate today. Directorate Body members serve a three-year term.
For any questions, please contact Matthew Gregory, Lead for Membership for the Senior-Level Community of Practice, at matthew_gregory@laboure.edu
Ready to join?
Joining an Entity through the ACPA Member Portal automatically identifies you as a member of that Entity! You will begin to receive Entity communications through their respective email listserv and have access to any resources they share!
- Login to your ACPA Member Account
- Click on Community Groups (Chatter)
- Click Groups
- Click Active Groups
- Find the entity you want to join and within that group, click +Join
Contact APAN via email at slcop@acpa.nche.edu to learn more about ACPA’s Senior-Level Community of Practice.
Any ACPA member can become involved and there are varying levels of involvement:
- Become a Regional Ambassador
- Attend our open business meeting at the annual ACPA convention
- Review program proposals for the Convention
- Submit a sponsored program proposal for Convention
- Host a webinar
Additional involvement opportunities
Submit to Present in the Growing Knowledge Series!
Recently successfully defended your dissertation? Undecided about working toward an article, but looking for a way to share your dissertation scholarship? Never published your recent dissertation research? The Growing Knowledge Series is for YOU!! This new offering...
Season 4: ACPA Senior-Level Support Network
Season 4: ACPA Senior-Level Support Network We are so excited to be back for our fourth season of the SLSN series! The ACPA Senior-Level Community of Practice (SLCoP) is excited to announce the fourth season of the Senior-Level Support Network. Launched in 2020 in...
slcop Awards
The depth and quality of work by student affairs educators, higher education scholars, and faculty colleagues too often goes unrecognized. Get Involved with SLCoP by recognizing and nominating a colleague, supervisor or supervisee, mentor, or other leader for a SLCoP Award.
Start gathering information today and get ready to recognize colleague!
Senior Level Professional Award
Awarded to colleagues with a minimum of 10 years in the profession with progressively more responsible leadership roles who have demonstrated expertise in creating a campus environment that promotes student learning. Nominees demonstrate outstanding individual contributions to innovation and responsive services and/or programs that address varied and emerging needs of students, as well as provided significant leadership in addressing issues for their respective institution.
Mid-Level Professional Award
Awarded to colleagues with a minimum of 5 years in the profession. In addition to outstanding individual contributions to their current institution, nominees clearly demonstrate potential for ongoing and senior-level success. Nominees demonstrate high levels of success in carrying out current responsibilities and sustained commitment to personal and professional growth. Nominations should speak to the individual’s potential and their development.
Innovative Practice: Application of the ACPA Strategic Imperative for Racial Justice and Decolonization
Awarded to an individual or group actualizing and implementing the framework of the SIRJD through programmatic efforts, individual or collective practice, policy analysis and change, or scholarship. Nominations should clearly describe the actions taken, connect the work to the SIRJD guiding principles, and speak to how the individual or collective efforts support the articulated possible and desired outcomes of the SIRJD: Critical Consciousness, Radical Democracy, Humanization.
Award for Excellence in Institutional Change
Awarded to a group or division having collectively tackled a substantial institutional change project through the development of some new effort shown to produce exemplary results. Both the challenge being addressed and the results being produced are informed by assessment data at the appropriate level within the institution. Efforts recognized are those that can be illustrated as having embedded themselves within institutional culture so as to sustain the change and the results that have been produced. Nominations must include multiple individuals from within the same institution of higher education, at least one of whom must be a current ACPA member.
“Commission I” Outstanding Contribution Award
Honoring the more than 60 years since the creation of the modern day SLCoP as “Commission I” in 1961, this award recognizes a member of ACPA for contributions that support the mission and vision of the ACPA Senior-Level Community of Practice. Nominations must include examples of contributions that support our mission/vision on an individual campus, to higher education broadly, or within ACPA specifically. Open to any member of ACPA. Awardees are selected by the current Chair of SLCoP.
Distinguished Service to the Senior-Level Community of Practice
Awarded to a member of ACPA who has served on the SLCoP Directorate Body for a minimum of three years and has managed a variety of leadership responsibilities. Nominees must be a current member of ACPA and the Senior-Level Community of Practice.