NAPAHE

06/15/2026

Last week, NAPAHE’s Board of Directors gathered at Emory University (Atlanta, GA) for its annual strategic planning retreat. The association’s leaders engaged in vital and exciting conversations about the future of NAPAHE, including upcoming programming, new member resources, conference enhancements, organizational staffing and governance, and the association’s upcoming 40th anniversary celebrations.

The board also toured the campus and visited the surrounding Atlanta region, enjoying a little team building along the way.

Thank you to our Immediate Past Board Chair, Rolanda Burney, for hosting us at your beautiful institution.

06/02/2026

For those who support leadership in higher ed:
What's the part of your role that's hardest to explain to someone outside the field?

Supporting presidents, provosts, and academic leaders is uniquely demanding work. And unless you've done it, it's hard to fully appreciate what that looks like on any given day.

That's what makes the NAPAHE community special. You don't have to explain yourself here. Everyone already gets it.

Drop your answer in the comments. We'd love to hear from you.

05/29/2026

We are so grateful for these kind words from Dr. Amy C. Novak, EdD, President of St. Ambrose University and Mount Mercy University!

The work of supporting university leaders is unlike any other — and no one should have to figure it out alone. NAPAHE exists to make sure they don't.

05/27/2026

In a recent HigherEdJobs conversation, Daniel B. Griffith said something NAPAHE members understand: "The so-called soft skills are the actual work we do."

For those who serve presidents, provosts, and senior leaders, that hits home. The listening. The follow-through. The quiet work of building trust across a campus. The hard conversations you help make easier. None of it is "soft" as it's the work that holds everything together.

A few takeaways from the conversation:
🔹 Lead with listening before making your case
🔹 Don't avoid conflict — notice when it's missing
🔹 Trust is built in small, consistent moments
🔹 Repair takes time, not just the right words

What's one "soft skill" that's made the biggest difference in your role? Tell us in the comments.

https://www.higheredjobs.com/Articles/articleDisplay.cfm?ID=4650&Title=%E2%80%9CSoft%20Skills%E2%80%9D%3A%20How%20Communication%20and%20Trust%20Shape%20Work%20in%20Higher%20Ed
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05/22/2026

The NAPAHE office will be closed on Monday, May 25, in observance of Memorial Day. We'll reopen Tuesday, May 26.

05/21/2026

"I was blindly going through it and wondering where the training manual was."

That's how NAPAHE Board Chair, Lynette Arner, describes stepping into her role as a first-time executive assistant to a president. No playbook. No manual. Just a lot of questions and not many places to find the answers.

That search is exactly what led her to NAPAHE — and at her very first conference, something clicked:
"I felt very validated, because we're all kind of going through the same work together. It was wonderful to step into a space where I didn't have to explain the work. People just knew immediately what I was talking about."

Her story is the story of so many of our members. Supporting higher education's senior leaders can feel isolating, but it doesn't have to be. NAPAHE is the professional home for the people who keep presidents, chancellors, and provosts running, and a community where you never have to explain the work.

05/18/2026

Graduation season 2026 is wrapping up. Here are 5 memorable and inspirational commencement quotes from this year's speakers:
🎓 "You are the architect of your own happiness." — Hilary Duff, Northeastern
🎓 "A lot of the best things that have ever happened to me have been mistakes or failures, or random classes I joined to get me across the finish line. But every time I've listened to my heart, that small voice inside that was and is still guiding me, then I have known I was on the right path." — Hugh Jackman, Ball State
🎓 "Success is lovely, awards are shiny, titles are impressive, but character is the legacy." — Colman Domingo, Temple
🎓 "Live by two words: tenacity and gratitude." — Henry Winkler, Emerson
🎓 "Trust what your heart hears and is telling you about your song." — Eric Church, UNC Chapel Hill

Read the full article:

Several celebrities — including Sarah Jessica Parker, Conan O'Brien and Henry Winkler — are giving commencement speeches at 2026 college graduation ceremonies. Here are all the celebrities giving 2026 college graduation speeches.

05/11/2026

A snapshot of the week ahead at NAPAHE:

📅 Tuesday, May 12 · 1:00 PM CT 2027 Conference Planning Committee — informational meeting for anyone interested in helping shape next February's gathering in Tucson.

Register here: https://members.napahe.org/events/EventDetails.aspx?id=2059137&group=

🎓 Wednesday, May 13 · 2:00 PM CT "Generations Part 2: Working with the Current Generation of Students." This session explores how generational context shapes expectations around learning, communication, support, and institutional trust.

Register here: https://members.napahe.org/events/EventDetails.aspx?id=2055953&group=

🤝 Thursday, May 14 · 2:30 PM CT NAPAHE Membership Committee — informational meeting for those interested in helping grow our community of 1,000+ professionals supporting higher ed's senior leaders.

Register here: https://members.napahe.org/events/EventDetails.aspx?id=2059140&group=

And next Wednesday, May 20 · 1:30 PM CT — Professional Development Committee meets to learn how this group creates and facilitates professional development opportunities beyond the annual conference.

Register here:https://members.napahe.org/events/EventDetails.aspx?id=2059142&group=

05/05/2026

What goes into leading an association specifically for higher education professionals?

We are excited to launch Inside NAPAHE, a new series featuring candid conversations with our leadership. For our first episode, Board Chair Lynette Arner sits down with Executive Director Stuart Schmidt to discuss the future of the association.

From Stuart’s personal journey in higher education to a first look at our five-year strategic roadmap, this session is designed to give you a transparent view of the work happening behind the scenes. We will also share early details about our 2027 anniversary milestone and how we are prioritizing the member experience.

Join us to hear how we are building a stronger, more connected community for executive assistants, chiefs of staff, and administrative leaders.

Register at the link below:
https://members.napahe.org/events/EventDetails.aspx?id=2055009&group=

04/20/2026

One of the best parts of your NAPAHE membership? Connecting with colleagues who get it. Our virtual affinity groups bring together professionals in similar roles to share experiences, exchange ideas, and build a network of support.

Join us this month:
📅 Presidential Assistants — Monday, April 20 at 2:30 p.m. CT
https://members.napahe.org/events/EventDetails.aspx?id=2055052&group=

📅 Provost Assistants — Tuesday, April 21 at 2:00 p.m. CT
https://members.napahe.org/events/EventDetails.aspx?id=2003190&group=

Visit our events page to register and learn more.