Mary Lou Higgerson is president of for academic affairs and dean of the college at Baldwin-Wallace College. She also serves on the board of trustees at Elmhurst College. Since the 1980s she has used her knowledge of organizational communication and more that 25 years of experience in higher education administration to help other college administrators. Dr. Higgerson is a regular presented at the American Council on Education Chairing the Academic department Workshop series and the Kansas State University Academic chairpersons Conference. She has consulted at numerous institutions and is known for publications and presentations that offer immediately useful insights to practicing administrators. The recipient of eight prestigious teaching awards, including the Distinguished teacher Award at Southern Illinois University Carbondale and the Bill Cashin Award for outstanding research contribution to the study and practice of higher education administration, Dr. Higgerson brings a hopeful clarity to complex issues that pose stressful conditions for chairs and deans.

Teddi A. Joyce is vice president for marketing, enrollment, and student services at The University of South Dakota. She previously served as associate academic dean and director of academic planning and research at Baldwin-Wallace College. With more than 16 years in various administrative capacities, her foci include using research to inform planning and decision-making processes, facilitating communication to help strengthen institutional planning, and understanding the role of public relations in the development of image. Prior to joining Baldwin-Wallace, Dr. Joyce worked in private industry. Her experiences with and insights into organizational issues in higher education provide a broad, practical understanding of today’s challenge.