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2025 NASPA Annual Conference

Vice Presidents for Student Affairs

The VPSA Initiatives Subcommittee of the Conference Leadership Committee has fashioned a program designed to help senior student affairs officers in their roles as administrators, educators and change makers. This program includes various unique elements tailored to create community, interaction, collaboration and learning. These distinctive program aspects include:

  • The traditional, full-day NASPA Vice Presidents for Student Affairs Institute. VPSAs will have the opportunity to hear from NASPA's new Executive Director, Dr. Amelia Parnell, and engage in other meaningful and influential topics, such as: adapting to the changing VPSA role, what is the VPSA role in using and adopting Artificial Intelligence (AI), and how do we evolve our campuses in the current DEI landscape. Registration is required for this VPSA-exclusive pre-conference offering.
  • VPSAs attending the NASPA Annual Conference for the first time, or seasoned attendees who are attending the conference for the first time as a VPSA, should plan to attend the peer-guided session Navigating the NASPA Annual Conference as a VPSA for the insider scoop on how to get the most out of their conference experiences.
  • Connect with peers at like institutional types during the informal but facilitated Institutional Type VPSA Roundtables. These conversations are organized by size of institution (e.g., small, medium, and large) and populations served (e.g., HSI, HBCU, etc.).
  • On Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday of the conference, VPSAs will have the chance to engage informally with one another during the topic-specific VPSA Colleague Conversations. These are 60 minute sessions scattered throughout the general conference program that allow for a deeper exploration of such topics as response to student protests and activism, the mental health needs of staff and VPSAs, how and when to sunset programs and initiatives, and the sustainability of the profession.
  • Your professional development as a senior campus leader is as important as that of your staff and the VPSA Coaching and Consulting initiative is designed exclusively for senior leaders . These, brief, introductory, 30 minute sessions provide access to seasoned coaches and consultants for some "in the moment" coaching and consultation on whatever professional topics you wish to discuss. Advanced registration is required. See Attendee emails for registration information.
  • The ever-popular VPSA and Voting Delegate Reception provides a great opportunity to step away from your busy conference schedule to network with your fellow VPSAs.

Throughout the conference, VPSAs will have the chance to visit the private VPSA Lounge, a gathering place where you can recharge, connect with colleagues, and follow up on pertinent campus issues.

VPSA Initiatives Subcommittee Members

A diverse group of senior campus leaders comprise the subcommittee charged with developing these various program offerings.  

  • Stephen C. Sutton, Chair,  University of California - Berkeley

  • Monique S. Allard, University of Southern California

  • Laura A. Bayless, Fitchburg State University

  • Evette Castillo Clark, Lewis & Clark College

  • David Crafts, College of San Mateo

  • Sarah Cunningham, Tulane University

  • Whitney McDowell-Robinson, Brenau University

  • Janel Owens, Felician University

  • Patrick Tanner, Spokane Community College

  • Michael Walsh, Oregon Health & Science University

  • Stephanie Gordon, NASPA

  • Abby Vollmer, NASPA