DSU’s Dr. Stacy Downing selected to attend AGB Institute

The AGB Institute for Leadership & Governance in Higher Education has named Dr. Stacy Downing, Chief Administrator of DSU Downtown, among the selected participants for the class of 2024-2025.

With the AGB Institute now entering its sixth year, 21 participants from nationwide institutions will gather for an in-person symposium in Washington, D.C., in September to kick off the program.

Dr. Downing has been a DSU administrator since 2013 when she began as the Associate Vice President of Student Affairs and was elevated to Vice President of Student Affairs one year later. After the DSU acquired the Wesley College property in Dover, Del., Dr. Downing was named the Chief Administrator of the renamed DSU Downtown.

The institute has proudly supported higher education leaders on their professional journeys. More than twenty of the past participants have become presidents or chancellors of higher education institutions, and many other participants have successfully progressed on the pathway to the presidency with commendations and new positions.

“The office of the president is very different than it was a decade ago, and a fundamental recognition is that the leadership tools of the past are not the same that will work in the future,” said Jason Lane, co-director of the institute, referencing the considerable challenges – from enrollment retention to increasing political attacks – that currently face presidents and chancellors. “Now more than ever, our higher education leaders need support and training to make difficult decisions and strategically guide their institutions through times of transformation.” 

The AGB Institute for Leadership & Governance comprises two symposia, four online workshops, attendance at the AGB National Conference on Trusteeship, and a shadowing experience with a sitting president. It features more than 30 higher education expert presenters, including current and former presidents, trustees, search consultants, and other sector professionals.

Recently released data from the American Council on Education’s 2023 American College President Study shows that the average tenure of college presidents continues to shorten. Colleges and universities are faced with a dearth of qualified leaders to meet the demands of the higher education sector due to several factors, including burnout and desire to be more closely aligned with internal principles.

The institute aims to support higher education leaders by fortifying participants with mentorship and peer networks as participants undergo their leadership journey together. “We recognize that choosing to pursue the office of a president is a calling,” said AGB Search Managing Principal and institute co-founder Rod McDavis. “Our institute offers the opportunity to create a different presidential leadership style to pursue that calling.”