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
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 Leader Community Conversations
News & Updates
What Drove Them To Leave? Understanding Professional Staff Departure
"What Drove Them To Leave? Understanding Professional Staff Departure" Webinar Recording (February 6, 2024) The field of...
To Comply or Not to Comply? That Is Not the Question: A Multi Content Analysis of Title IX Policies or Historically Black Land Grant Universities Recording
"To Comply or Not to Comply? That Is Not the Question: A Multi Content Analysis of Title IX Policies or Historically Black Land...
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....
“When the World Stopped” How Undergraduate Women Leaders Developed their Identities During an Unanticipated Transition Recording
“When the World Stopped:" How Undergraduate Women Leaders Developed their Identities During an Unanticipated Transition (July 31, 2023) One of the many aims of colleges and universities is helping students to develop...
upcoming SLCOP events
There are no upcoming events at this time
Meet the Directorate
Lindy Stein
Chair
she/her/hers
Director of Parking, Postal Services, and Document Services, UW-Oshkosh
Dave Fleming
Chair-Elect
he/him/his
Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs/Dean of Residence Life & Housing, University of Mary Washington
Juliette Duke
Past Chair
Senior Director – University Housing, Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo
Troy L. Seppelt, Ed.D.
Coordinator -Dean of Student Institute
Assistant Vice Chancellor and Dean of Students, University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point
Lorraine Acker
Coordinator - Membership and SSAO Relations
Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs, SUNY Brockport
Abby Priehs
Coordinator - Growing Knowledge Series
she/her/hers
Director of Residential Life, Cornell University
Juliette Daniels, Ed.D.
Coordinator - Senior Leader Community Conversations
she/her/hers
Assistant Dean for Student Services & Enrollment Management, University of Detroit Mercy
Lisa Lockman
Coordinator - TBD
she/her/hers
Assistant Director of Residence Life for Front Desk Operations and Risk Management, University of Kentucky
Elcin Haskollar
Coordinator - Webinar and Endorsed Programs
she/her/hers
Associate Dean of Students for Diversity and Inclusion/Director, Center for Diversity and Inclusion, Ringling College of Art and Design
David Greene
Coordinator - TBD
he/him/his
Vice President of Student Affairs, New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology
LaMarcus Howard, Ph.D.
Coordinator - Outreach & Communication
Assistant Vice Chancellor, Student Health and Wellness, North Carolina Central University
Ben Morton
Coordinator - Dean of Students Institute
he/him/his
Dean of Students, University of Alaska Anchorage
Amanda Thomas
Coordinator - Senior Leader Community Conversations
she/her/hers
Executive Director of Assessment and Planning, West Chester University
Thomas Dickson
Coordinator - TBD
he/him/his
Director, Ohio Department of Higher Education
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).
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
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
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 Brett Bruner, Lead for Membership for the Senior-Level Community of Practice, at brett.bruner@wichita.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 us via email at slcop@acpa.nche.edu to learn more about ACPA’s Senior-Level Community of Practice.
- 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
slcop Awards
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.
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.