Just for Attendees!

5- 6:30 p.m., Networking Happy Hour (optional)

Stop by RYZE for an informal welcome mixer!
RYZE Skyline Lounge at the Hilton Garden Inn (125 N. Cascade Ave., Colorado Springs, CO 80903)

8 - 9 a.m. Check-In

8:30 a.m. Breakfast

9 a.m. Welcome and Introductions

Dr. Miriam Merrill, Chief of Staff, Hamilton College, and Dr. Genevieve Evans Taylor, Chief of Staff, California State University, Northridge
Gaylord Hall, Worner Center (all programming in this location unless otherwise specified)

10 a.m. What Makes Institutions Vital? A Framework for High-Stakes Decision Making in Higher Education

Emma Jones, Executive Vice President, Leadership, Carnegie
Higher education is in a new institutional era. Demographic disruption, financial pressure, AI acceleration, shifting student expectations, and declining public confidence are reshaping how institutions operate, compete, and sustain relevance. What were once isolated challenges have become interconnected conditions that require clearer strategic direction, stronger organizational alignment, and more adaptive leadership. In this environment, institutional success is no longer defined by stability alone. Vital institutions demonstrate both organizational strength and direct relevance to the students and communities they serve—aligning strategy, leadership, and action around meaningful impact and long-term sustainability. In this session, Chiefs of Staff will explore Carnegie’s emerging Vitality Framework, a model for helping institutional leaders navigate complexity, make high-stakes decisions, and move forward with greater clarity and alignment. Participants will examine the conditions shaping higher education today, consider what makes institutions truly vital, and discuss the role leadership plays in driving institutional momentum, adaptability, and student-centered success.

11 a.m. Wellness Break

11:15 a.m. Strategic Plan Case Studies

Scott Mory, Senior Vice President and Chief of Staff at The George Washington University, and Lindsay Nyquist, Chief of Staff, Occidental College
Nyquist and Mory, both two years into their COS roles, will share different strategic planning experiences as brief case studies. The George Washington University recently adopted a new strategic framework–not a strategic plan–and Mory will describe how he and his team led that process, and now its implementation. Alternatively, Nyquist arrived at Occidental College just after a strategic plan had been inked by a previous president, and created structures to honor the work already been done while seamlessly layering in a new vision. There will be plenty of time for discussion afterwards, so bring your questions and your stories to share.

12:15 p.m. Lunch

1:45 p.m. Breakout Session #1: Leading Without Formal Authority

Dr. Kristina Campos-Davis, Chief of Staff and Board Professional, Trinity University
As Chiefs of Staff, we are constantly asked to lead in situations where we hold no formal authority. In this interactive session, Dr. Campos-Davis explores how to build credibility as an informal leader while protecting your relationships with colleagues.
Gaylord Hall, Worner Center

1:45 p.m. Breakout Session #2: Working With People

Anne Laskowski, Chief of Staff and Director of Strategic Planning, Wesleyan University
Working with people is at the heart of every chief of staff role and one of its greatest challenges. In this session, we'll explore the dynamics of influence, trust, and relationships that shape how we get things done in complex institutional environments. Come ready to share, reflect, and learn from the experiences in the room.
Room 213, Worner Center

2:50 p.m. Presidential Keynote: The Change Agent Beside the Change Agent: How Chiefs of Staff Navigate Institutional Transformation

Dr. Manya Whitaker, President of Colorado College
Change management reshapes everything about how a Chief of Staff works - the pace, the visibility, the complexity, and the emotional demands. Using dynamic systems theory as a frame, this keynote explores what institutional change looks like from the inside, what it feels like for the people living it, and what Chiefs of Staff can actually do about it. From priority shifts to budget pressures, the strategies shared are practical and grounded in two consistent anchors - center the institution, center the students.

3:50 p.m. Nutrition Break

4 p.m. AI Lightning Rounds and Roundtables

Dr. Miriam Merrill, Chief of Staff, Hamilton College, and Dr. Kerry Calnan, Chief of Staff, Springfield College
This fast-paced, interactive session invites colleagues to take the stage for a 10-minute, hands-on presentation showcasing a specific example of how they are integrating AI into their daily workflow or institutional strategy. Whether streamlining routine tasks or tackling complex challenges, these lightning rounds offer a rare opportunity to learn directly from peers, spark new ideas, and explore practical applications of AI that can be brought back to your own work.

5 p.m. Social Hour + Dinner

8 a.m. Breakfast

8:30 a.m. Time to Transition? Career Trajectories After the Chief of Staff Role

Dr. Shawn Whalen, Chief of Staff, San Jose State University
The role of Chief of Staff can look like a dead end on a University's organizational chart, so am I trapped in here? This session will explore potential avenues for career growth and development for those leaving the role of Chief of Staff. It will provide insight into aligned higher education job opportunities that allow those who have Chief of Staff experience to draw on it to make valuable contributions both within institutions as well as in the external higher education economy.

9:30 a.m. What to Expect from Washington in 2026-27

Jessie Brown, Executive Vice President, American Council on Education
What should higher education leaders be preparing for next? This session will provide a broad overview of the federal dynamics most likely to affect campuses in the year ahead, and explore how chiefs of staff can help translate uncertainty into clearer strategy, better judgment, and more coordinated leadership.

10:30 a.m. Wellness Break

10:45 a.m. The Art of the Invisible Pivot: Mastering the Modern Chief of Staff Role

Dr. Erin Brownlee Dell, Chief of Staff and Secretary of the College, Swarthmore College, and Myrna Hernandez, Chief of Staff and Vice President of Administration, Grinnell College
The higher education Chief of Staff role is one of the most uniquely challenging positions in leadership: you carry immense responsibility and navigate complex institutional politics all while supporting the institutional mission and vision. But how do you transition from managing daily crises to actively shaping the long-term institutional strategy?
In this interactive session, we will break down the art and science of a truly great Chief of Staff. We’ll move past the standard "air traffic controller" metaphor and dive into concrete case studies needed to act as a trusted proxy, read institutional currents before they become waves, and protect your President’s time and energy.

11:45 a.m. Wrap up and thank you

Chief of Staff Summit