Stillman VP named to prestigious leadership academy

Paulk secures NACUBO student outcomes grant

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – Chavis Paulk, vice president for finance and administration for Stillman College, has been selected to participate in the 2022-23 Executive Leadership Academy.

A black man poses for a phot in a studio
Chavis Paulk

The ELA is a yearlong program that prepares experienced provosts and vice presidents to move to positions of greater responsibilities, including presidencies.

The ELA is cosponsored by the Council of Independent Colleges, the American Association or State Colleges and Universities, and the American Academic Leadership Institute.

Paulk assumed the role of VP for finance and administration at Stillman in January 2021 after serving as division director of analytics in the Governor’s Office of Planning and Budget for the State of Georgia.

Paulk will participate in a pair of summer seminars in Washington, D.C. beginning next month and will receive individualized coaching and mentorship throughout the duration of the program. Additionally, all participants will develop highly individualized Professional Experience Plans designed to “fill gaps” in their expertise and experience.

Paulk said the Academy will yield strong partnerships to help “usher in” a new generation of analytics solutions for Stillman and address dynamic challenges across campus.

“Developing sustainable analytic capacity is paramount to insightful decision making,” Paulk said. “This involves collaborative and solution-oriented initiatives with internal and external stakeholders.”

The ELA began in 2009, and 100 of the participants from the 10 cohorts that have completed the Academy have been appointed as presidents or chancellors, with many more advancing to senior positions.

Paulk is eager to tap into this robust peer network.

“Learning is a process that never ends,” he said. “As it relates to change management and leadership skills, this philosophy holds true. I look forward to working with other program participants who will undoubtedly provide me diverse perspectives as it relates to developing and implementing transformative change.”

Paulk receives student completion grant                     

The National Association of College and University Business Officers has selected Stillman College as one of 26 institutions to participate in a three-year study of financial models to help improve student outcomes.

The $3.8 million project, funded by Ascendium Education Group and supported by College Futures and Trellis Foundation, aims to develop strategic models that prioritize and sustain student equity, success, and completion initiatives.

The participating institutions enroll high percentages of typically underserved students, including community colleges, small rural institutions, and small-to-mid-size regional public institutions.

The study will hinge on the chief business officers at these institutions contributing their expertise – CFOs will assess needs and barriers, develop and test revised approaches to strategic finance activities, and build scalable frameworks and tools. Work will be completed with the intention of establishing models and processes that can be replicated or leveraged by other institutions, with customization.

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