Mid-level staff professionals can have a profoundly positive impact on the student experience, employee retention, and campus operations. The Associated Colleges of the Midwest’s Leading from the Middle certificate program is designed to prepare and equip mid-level staff to identify their personal leadership style and strengths, deepen their knowledge of campus offices and programs, align operations with strategy, lead institutional projects, and evaluate and empower their direct reports.
PROGRAM OVERVIEW
Through virtual sessions and an in-person workshop, participants will identify an unmet need on their campus and develop a proposal to address it. To inform their proposal, participants will draw on best practices from change management theory, consider relevant research, and incorporate feedback from consortial peers and campus partners. To complete their certificate, participants will attend all required sessions and present their plan to campus leaders.
This program kicks off with an in-person, two-day workshop in September 2026, followed by 90-minute virtual meetings every other month from November 2026 to September 2027.
PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS
2026-2027 Cohort
- Tristan Draper, Assistant Director, Library Services, Beloit College
- Jessica Fox-Wilson, Associate Dean of Students, Co-Director of the Advanced Mentoring Program, Beloit College
- Makiko Imamura, Assistant Vice President for Institutional Research and Assessment, Carleton College
- Jane Rizzo, Associate Vice President for Finance, Carleton College
- Samantha Thayer, Director, Office of Accessibility Resources, Carleton College
- Anna Dvorak, Associate Director of Admission & Aviation Programs, Coe College
- Nicole Jaeger, Director of Human Resources, Coe College
- Keenan Wilson, Registrar, Coe College
- Shannon Claxton, Director of Academic Assessment, Accreditation, and Evaluation, Colorado College
- Christopher Sewell, Assistant Vice President of Institutional Equity and Belonging, Colorado College
- Janelle Taylor, Associate Vice President of Health & Wellbeing, Colorado College
- Stefanie Bray, Director of Human Resources, Cornell College
- Daniel Chou, Assistant Dean of Students and Director of Residence Life, Cornell College
- Cynthia Turley, Coordinator of Academic Advising and Support, Cornell College
- Sarah Fischer, Assistant Vice President of Admission, Grinnell College
- Sarah Smith, Director of Community and Government Relations, Grinnell College
- German Vargas Ramos, Director of Digital Strategy, Grinnell College
- Sarah Dean, Director of Digital Initiatives, Knox College
- Christina Smith, Director of Engagement and Annual Giving, Knox College
- Tiffany Springer, Assistant Vice President of Career and Community Engagement, Director of the Bastian Family Center for Career Success, Knox College
- Mary Grigar, Assistant Dean of Students, Director of Health and Wellness, Lake Forest College
- Nicholas Hoeppner, Associate Director of Classroom Technology and Media Services, Lake Forest College
- Tyler VanderGaast, Executive Director of Finance & Planning, Lawrence University
- Rachel Vsetecka, Director of Alumni and Donor Engagement, Luther College
- RyAnn Winings, Registrar, Luther College
- Hannah Adams Ingram, Associate Dean for Institutional Equity and College Chaplain, Macalester College
- Laurie Adamson, Executive Director, Center for Student Leadership & Engagement, Macalester College
- Carley Stuber, Assistant Vice President of Development, Macalester College
- Jennifer Armstrong, Director of Alumni Engagement and the Annual Fund, Monmouth College
- Kristi Millar, Registrar, Monmouth College
- Julie Korth, Associate Vice President for Finance and Controller, Ripon College
- Jena Nolan, Director of Annual Giving, Ripon College
- Elizabeth Taft, Associate Vice President of Marketing and Communication, Ripon College
- Sarah Gingerich, Assistant Director of Music Organizations for Project Management, St. Olaf College
- Connor Kern, Associate Athletic Director, St. Olaf College
PARTICIPATION CRITERIA
This certificate program is designed for mid-career higher education professionals seeking to develop and refine their leadership skills. Each ACM member college may select up to three (3) participants for the 2026-2027 program.
All participants must meet the following criteria:
- Be designated as a member of the staff (faculty may explore other ACM opportunities);
- Report to a Vice President or a member of the President’s senior staff/cabinet; and
- Supervise at least one direct report.
LEARNING OBJECTIVES
Participants will:
- Enhance their ability to manage change and lead departments, projects, and people.
- Leverage campus and cross-institution perspectives to promote a spirit of innovation, collaboration, community, and creative problem-solving.
- Be empowered to reflect on their leadership skills, align their work to the broader mission of their college, and design a plan to implement a new initiative or improve existing processes.
REGISTRATION INFORMATION & PROGRAM DATES
Registration for the 2026-2027 cohort is closed.
In-Person Workshop: Coe College (Cedar Rapids, IA) on September 24 (9:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m CT) – September 25 (8:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m. CT), 2026
Virtual Workshops: November 6, 2026; January 29, 2027; March 5, 2027; April 5, 2027; May 28, 2027; July 16, 2027; and September 29, 2027 (all virtual sessions are from 9:30-11:00 a.m. CT)
PROGRAM COSTS
ACM will cover all programming costs, lodging, and meals during the in-person workshop. ACM will provide some travel subsidies for participants traveling more than 100 miles to attend the in-person workshop. Nominating campuses agree to provide participants with sufficient release time to attend required events and complete associated assignments.
Please contact acm@acm.edu with questions.
