About

President to President is a higher education thought leadership series written by university presidents for university presidents. Each year, the series focuses on a different aspect of the higher education experience. The 2025-2026 edition of President to President, titled “Intentional Efforts in Belonging,” highlights leadership strategies for proactively helping students form meaningful, authentic connections on campus.

Few would dispute the pivotal role a college or university president plays in shaping campus culture and fostering a sense of community. Leadership at the top is a critical driver of any institution’s success, and the tone set by a president resonates throughout every level of the organization.

The 2025-2026 President to President series will feature insights from ten presidents who have taken deliberate steps to shape their campus environments and strengthen connections among students, faculty, and staff. These presidents don’t take campus culture for granted or delegate it solely to their teams. Instead, they embody a human-centered leadership approach, prioritizing intentional actions that foster belonging, engagement, and a sense of purpose across campus.

Each chapter delves into specific initiatives and strategies that have profoundly impacted the student experience and contributed meaningfully to the institution’s broader vision. By sharing these stories, the series aims to inspire other leaders to recognize that even seemingly small efforts can engage students and fulfill their desire to belong on campus.

Through thoughtful, intentional leadership, presidents can leave a lasting legacy—one that promotes a culture of belonging and strengthens the entire campus community.

Each chapter of President to President is authored by a notable higher education thought leader at the forefront of innovative philosophies and practices that give their institution a competitive advantage. For the first 19 years of President to President, higher education leaders Scott D. Miller, Ph.D., and Marylouise Fennell, Ed.D., served as executive editors. After the passing in October 2022 of Dr. Fennell, a beloved colleague and friend and a force to be reckoned with, Dr. Miller continued the series in her honor. In 2023, he welcomed two new Assistant Editors: Katelyn M. Sanders, Pharm. D., and Kelly R. Cordova, M.B.A.

Each month, one chapter will be distributed and promoted electronically, as well as posted on www.president2president.com. At the end of the series, the foreword and chapters will be published into a thought-provoking collection and made available as a reference resource.