Thanks to the sponsorship support from ACI Corporate Partner Graystone Consulting, ACI hosted a special President’s Breakfast on January 5 at the Council of Independent Colleges (CIC) Annual President’s Institute in San Antonio, Texas. This year’s theme, “Engaging Communities,” focused on how colleges and universities can strengthen connections, navigate change, and pursue new opportunities. A total of 269 college and university presidents attended this year’s Presidents Institute, along with 9 State Council executives. The overall number of registrants was 671.
Member presidents who took part in the ACI networking breakfast were:
- Patricia Draves – Monmouth College
- Keith Elder – St. Xavier University
- Barbara Farley – Illinois College
- David Livingston – Lewis University
- Brian McGee – Quincy University
- Daniel Norton – Principia College
- Jamel Wright – Eureka College
In addition to those who were able to attend the ACI networking breakfast, the following presidents also participated in the Institute: Larry Lee of Blackburn College and Mary Surridge of North Park University.
ACI Executive Director April Arnold joined fellow State Council leaders Bob Bartlett, Ph.D. of Michigan Colleges Alliance, and Bill Spiker of The Ohio Foundation of Independent Colleges to present “Leveraging Career Center Collaborations to Build Student Success.”
The session showcased how collaborations between campus career centers, external providers, and businesses are driving career readiness for students at independent colleges. These partnerships are paving the way for successful internships and full-time careers. ACI is proud to lead these efforts, helping students secure meaningful internships and launch successful careers.