Chief Enrollment Officers’ Forum (CHIEF) delves into the varied demands and critical role of the chief enrollment leader.
Faculty will guide participants through issues impacting the field such as managing up and across, achieving success within the current educational, legal and political landscape, and the heightened need for collaboration and co-creation to fortify the enterprise across campuses, sectors, community and beyond. Particular focus will be on leveraging the CHIEF community and network to continue to build your knowledge and expertise in the role.
Participants will gain insight and information about strategies and lessons learned from seasoned leaders to support their success in the VPEM/senior enrollment leader role. Incorporated into the workshop are the “behind the scenes” strategies employed by highly successful enrollment leaders, in a confidential and trusted space that fosters your ability to share, learn and lean on this incredible network of peers.
About this workshop
The role of CEMO is changing, expanding, and the stakes are high for leaders in the field working to navigate today’s enrollment and higher education landscape. The CEMO Forum “Navigating the Now” will provide you with an opportunity to engage directly with leaders across the field, learn best practices and key strategies to enhance your work and ability to achieve your institutional and professional outcomes. The workshop focuses on the everyday realities of our current legal and political landscape and the changing student, staff, alumni, and institutional leadership outcomes expectations. Sessions will cover leadership, decision making, adapting to senior leadership transitions, best practices for developing and leading strategic enrollment efforts, and managing up and out to develop strong relationships and enhance stakeholder confidence, all while building your knowledge and expertise to “navigate the now.”
agenda
Wednesday, September 24, 2025
7:00 a.m. – 8:00 a.m. (ET)
Check-In & Breakfast
8:00 a.m. – 8:45 a.m. (ET)
Welcome and Introductions
Program Directors:
Ashley M. Pallie, Dean of Admissions, California Institute of Technology
Dr. Olufemi Ogundele, Associate Vice Chancellor & Dean of Enrollment, University of California | Berkeley
8:50 a.m. – 9:50 a.m. (ET)
What is a CEMO in 2025?
9:50 a.m. – 10:05 a.m. (ET)
Break
10:10 a.m. – 11:15 a.m. (ET)
The Federal Government’s Assault on Higher Education Beyond Research
11:15 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. (ET)
Roundtable Discussions
12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m. (PT)
Lunch
1:00 p.m. – 2:15 p.m. (ET)
Aligning Institutional Mission in 2025
Stu Schmill, MIT
Peaches Valdez, Wellesley College
Joe Montgomery, NC A&T
Rance Lee, Colonel, West Point Academy
2:20 p.m. – 3:30 p.m. (ET)
Unions, Labor, and AI: Managing the Workforce
Richard Beatty, Stonybrook University
Falone Serna, California Lutheran University
3:30 p.m. – 3:45 p.m. (ET)
Break
3:45 p.m. – 4:45 p.m. (ET)
When Access is More Than Lip Service
Brent Gage, University of Iowa
Jose Aviles, Temple University
4:45 p.m. – 5:15 p.m. (ET)
Roundtable Discussions
5:30 – 6:15 p.m. (ET)
Happy Hour
Thursday, September 25, 2025
7:00 a.m. – 8:00 a.m. (ET)
Breakfast
8:00 a.m. – 8:30 a.m. (ET)
Day 1 Recap
8:30 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. (ET)
Geopolitics: The Rapidly Evolving International Landscape
MJ Knoll Finn, New York University
9:30 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. (ET)
Workshop Closing: Welcome to the Movement