https://linktr.ee/awilconference

AWIL Conference, 955 La Paz Rd, Santa Barbara, CA (2026)

12/12/2025

What a wonderful way to kick off the holiday season! Advancing Women in Leadership Westmont hosted their Christmas PJ Party where they packaged care boxes for families at Domestic Violence Solutions Santa Barbara, wrote them encouraging holiday cards, enjoyed The Santa Clause movie, and made fresh Christmas cookies. We are so encouraged and blessed to see not only the Young Ladies Chapter taking off, but their action as servant leaders who prioritize giving back to their community. Merry Christmas from AWIL Westmont!

12/11/2025

Join us for this year's AWIL conference "She Leads Wholly: Empowered in Heart, Mind, and Spirit" on Thursday, January 29th, 2026 from 1:00pm-5:00pm at the Ga***rd Texan Resort in Dallas, Texas at the CCCU International Forum. Register on the CCCU website under "Pre-Forum Gatherings". She Leads Wholly is about learning how to lead with your WHOLE self, sharing wisdom, preparing you to influence and leave an impact on Christian higher education, and cultivate the confidence to secure leadership roles. You will not want to miss it. Excited to see you there!

04/24/2025

Congratulations to Ms. Candice Storey Lee on being named Athletic Director of the year! She is a talented, dedicated, and deserving leader. Candice, the Advancing Women in Leadership Conference will always champion for you. We are so proud.

03/20/2025

What a fantastic 10th anniversary of Advancing Women in Leadership! Thank you to Lipscomb University, the Lipscomb Planning Team, the Advancing Women in Leadership Task Force, and all the speakers and staff for creating a wonderful day. We walked away inspired and excited to do it again next year!

02/13/2025

Introducing this year’s Advancing Women in Leadership Task Force member Celina Canales of Vanguard University. Read her bio below.

Celina Canales holds dual leadership roles at Vanguard University as the Director of the Jesse Miranda Center (JMC) and Director of University Engagement. She is committed to advancing the JMC’s mission of educating, equipping, and empowering Latina/o leaders through transformative initiatives that impact the campus, church, and community through education and strategic partnerships.

As Director of University Engagement, Celina manages signature university events, including the VU Together series, Convocation, Baccalaureate, Commencement, and other campus-wide gatherings. She ensures these events embody Vanguard’s spirit-filled culture and unwavering commitment to excellence. Additionally, she plays a key role in the Leading with Integrity Faith and Trust (LIFT) Committee, championing women’s initiatives that align with the university’s core value of promoting women in leadership.

Celina began her journey at Vanguard in 2015 as the Director of Academic Operations in the Office of the Provost. An alumna of Vanguard University, she earned a BA in Business Administration and a master’s degree in Business Organizational Leadership. With over 22 years of experience in nonprofit management, she brings exceptional expertise and passion to her work.

Celina’s greatest joy comes from her family. She and her husband, Johnny, reside in Costa Mesa, CA, with their two children, Cienna (5) and Caleb (3), who are the source of their love, energy, and inspiration.

02/11/2025

Introducing this year’s Advancing Women in Leadership Task Force member Wanda Velez of the Council for Christian Colleges & Universities. Read her bio below.

With over 20 years of experience in executive-level management, leadership, and team development, Wanda Velez is a dynamic leader who excels in fostering productive relationships and inspiring teams. Most recently, she served as Vice President of Student Development and Dean of Students at Alliance University (formerly Nyack College), becoming the first Latina executive officer in the institution’s history. Wanda began her journey at AU in 2001 as Director of Alumni Relations and transitioned in 2003 to the Office of Student Development, where she served as Director of Residence Life/Resident Director of Simpson Hall. In 2010, she was appointed Dean of Students, leading all aspects of campus life, including the development of policies, procedures, and the student code of conduct.

Wanda’s ethnic identity and personal journey uniquely equip her to lead with empathy and authenticity, both on campus and in her broader community. Her passion for storytelling shapes her leadership style, emphasizing the power of sharing personal experiences—both triumphs and setbacks—to inspire and mentor others. Through this approach, she has played a pivotal role in shaping hundreds of student leaders.

An alumna of the CCCU Women’s Advanced Leadership Institute (WALI) and the Multi-Ethnic Leadership Development Institute (M-ELDI), where she also served as a Resource Leader, Wanda has been deeply involved in advancing leadership development within Christian higher education. She has served on the CCCU Commission for Chief Student Development Officers and as a Commissioner on the CCCU Commission on Diversity and Inclusion.

02/07/2025

Introducing this year’s Advancing Women in Leadership Task Force member Jamie Sanfilippo of Huntington University Arizona. Read her full bio below.

Dean of Huntington University Arizona Dr. Jaime Sanfilippo brings a diverse background and extensive experience in Christian higher education. She holds a PhD in Higher Education from Azusa Pacific University, a Master’s in Organizational Leadership from Saint Louis University, and a Bachelor’s of Arts in Communication from Greenville University.
With over seven years of experience, Jamie previously served as the Director of Membership and Development at the Council for Christian Colleges & Universities (CCCU), where she provided valuable benefits to over 185 member institutions and oversaw the annual fund program. Before her tenure at CCCU, she held the position of Associated Director of Student Services at Huntington University Arizona and was part of the inaugural team in 2016.
Jamie is passionate about Christian higher education and eagerly anticipates sharing her journey with students. In her free time, she enjoys embarking on adventures with her husband, spending quality time with their dogs, Archie and Harley, reading, building LEGOs, and cooking meals for friends.

02/06/2025

Introducing this year’s Advancing Women in Leadership Task Force member Gillian Stewart-Wells of Judson University. Read her full bio below.

Dr. Stewart-Wells has held teaching and administrative positions, including Acting President, CEO, Provost, VP of Curriculum and Instruction, Dean of Students, Department Chair, and Program Director, in both CCCU schools and secular institutions. Dr. Stewart-Wells joined the Cabinet as Judson’s first female Provost/CAO in 2018. She coordinated the efforts to receive Higher Learning Commission approval for the institution’s first doctoral degree and directed the team that submitted the Change of Control for acquiring a nursing school. In the spring of 2023, President Crume approved Dr. Stewart-Wells’ proposal for the university’s first Center for Teaching and Learning.

During her tenure at Judson University as provost in 2023, she served to lead and host the 8th Advancing Women in Leadership Conference and the first conference in the MidWestern region of the U.S. The sold-out event is a reflection of her dedication to this effort and carrying the momentum of AWIL forward.

Gillian lives with her husband, John, in South Barrington, IL, where they are members of the Barrington United Methodist Church. She enjoys traveling to visit her three grown daughters, cheering on the Chicago Cubs, and engaging in physical fitness. She aspires to improve at golf but doesn’t hold out much hope.

02/03/2025

Introducing this year’s Advancing Women in Leadership Task Force first student member Alison Gambill of Westmont College. Read her full bio below.

Alison Gambill is a freshman Augustinian Scholar and Presidential Leadership Fellow Economics and Business major at Westmont College in Santa Barbara, California. Proudly from Little Rock, Arkansas, graduating from the all-girls Catholic school Mount St. Mary Academy as the Student Body President, Alison is ready to inspire young women to chase their dreams and fulfill their potential. As Student Body President, she addressed the tragic passing of her classmate, led the school in collecting 79,082 cans to supply the Central Arkansas food banks, and spoke with families, classmates, and parents, at pep rallies and speeches calling young women to continue “A Tradition of Excellence”. She has attended leadership conferences such as: Pepperdine University’s Crossways: A Christian Youth Leadership Experience, the Hugh O’Brian Youth Leadership Seminar, and the American Legion Auxiliary Arkansas Girls State.
In addition to being Student Body President, Alison was a founding member and President of the Honor Council, President of the French Club, Belle Ambassador, and Secretary of the Pickleball Club. She has engaged in service volunteering at St. Vincent’s Hospital and the Arkansas School for the Blind.
Alison has worked for Matt Morris State Farm Insurance handling claims, boosting customer satisfaction, running events, marketing, social media, and writing insurance policies. After the unfortunate tornadoes in March of 2023, Alison took extra care to ensure that customers were placed in rental homes and that their homes were rebuilt. Taking care of customers is of the utmost importance to Alison.
As she said in her closing prayer service speech concluding her presidency at Mount St. Mary Academy, “All of you fine young women are the future of the world, and I cannot wait to lead and change it with you”. This quote is central to who Alison is and her hopes for Advancing Women in Leadership.

02/02/2025

Introducing this year’s Advancing Women in Leadership Task Force starting with our Chair Irene Neller of Westmont College. Read her full bio below.

Irene Neller became Westmont’s first vice president for enrollment, marketing and communications in December 2017 after serving 26 years at Biola University and four years at Fuller Theological Seminary, building and redefining new functions of strategic enrollment and marketing and earning numerous industry awards. She graduated from Bethany University with a degree in communications and earned a master’s in communications promotions management at CSU Fullerton. A recognized leader in Christian higher education, she chaired the Council of Christian Colleges and Universities (CCCU) national committee for communication officers and serves on the commission. She is committed to mentoring young women, started a national annual conference for advancing women in leadership, and is passionate about issues of diversity. She and her husband have two sons, and one is a Westmont graduate.

02/02/2025

Introducing this year’s Advancing Women in Leadership Task Force Member April Harris Akinloye of Pepperdine University. Read her full bio below.

A native of Los Angeles, April Harris Akinloye (’00, MA ’05) serves as assistant vice president for community belonging. In this role, she assists with the strategic vision, program implementation and assessment, partnership development, and other initiatives for which the office has oversight. Driven by a desire to advance cultural competency and an eagerness to offer an empathetic ear to students, staff, faculty members, alumni, and administrators, Harris Akinloye’s leadership and expertise in the areas of diversity, equity, and inclusion have enabled her to cultivate a sense of belonging within the university setting.

Before joining Pepperdine, Harris Akinloye served in various roles as a university administrator, most recently as chief diversity officer at Vanguard University. Her experience also includes serving as a Title IX coordinator, international student coordinator, veterans’ student coordinator, assistant director of admissions, assistant director of the McNair Scholars Program, and director of intercultural student programs. Her breadth of expertise and prior collaborative relationships with cabinet members, deans, and community members contribute highly to her effectiveness in policy development, conflict resolution, and proactive intervention.

Harris Akinloye is a double alumna of Pepperdine, holding a BA in speech communication from Seaver College and an MA in education from the Graduate School of Education and Psychology. She earned a PhD in education, with a focus on cultural perspectives, from the University of California, Santa Barbara.

01/30/2025

Introducing our Advancing Women in Leadership Task Force member Karen A. Longman of Azusa Pacific University. Read her bio below.

Karen A. Longman, PhD, joined the Azusa Pacific University faculty in 2006. She received her PhD from the Center for the Study of Higher Education at The University of Michigan. Prior to coming to APU, Longman served for six years as Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of the Faculty at Greenville College (IL) and for 19 years as Vice President for Professional Development and Research at the Council for Christian Colleges & Universities, based in Washington, D.C. She continues to serve as a Senior Fellow with the Council for Christian Colleges & Universities and has coordinated Leadership Development Institutes for emerging leaders within the CCCU since 1998. Longman has authored multiple grant proposals totaling over $2.5 million and coordinated the resulting program initiatives with support from the Fund for the Improvement of Postsecondary Education, the W. K. Kellogg Foundation, the Templeton Foundation, the Pew Charitable Trusts, the M. J. Murdock Charitable Trust, and the National Endowment for the Humanities. She served as an editorial board member and reviewer for Research on Christian Higher Education and has been a Staley Distinguished Lecturer at numerous colleges and universities.

AWIL Conference

12/12/2025

12/11/2025

04/24/2025

03/20/2025

02/13/2025

02/11/2025

02/07/2025

02/06/2025

02/03/2025

02/02/2025

02/02/2025

01/30/2025

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