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Carolyn Stefanco
Former University President - Women's Leadership Expert - Executive Coach - Global Strategist - Certified Board Advisor
Carolyn Stefanco, Ph.D., is a prominent leader in higher education and currently serves as a Member at Chief, an organization dedicated to supporting women in executive roles. With a strong background in academia and leadership, she has made significant contributions to various institutions and initiatives.
Professional Background
- Education: Carolyn Stefanco is a first-generation college graduate who earned her Ph.D. in women's history. Her academic journey has been marked by a commitment to advancing women's leadership in higher education.
- Leadership Roles: She was the president of The College of Saint Rose in Albany, New York, from 2014 to 2020. During her tenure, she launched innovative student success programs and expanded the institution's diversity initiatives, achieving record enrollment figures and fundraising milestones for women's leadership programs.124
Consulting and Coaching
In addition to her role at Chief, Stefanco is the founder of Baret Leadership Consulting, where she provides executive coaching and strategic guidance to leaders across various sectors. Her consulting work focuses on navigating leadership challenges, enhancing governance diversity, and fostering global educational partnerships.12
Achievements and Recognition
- Awards: She received the Helen Gurley Brown Foundation Genius Award for her visionary leadership in higher education.
- Thought Leadership: Carolyn is recognized as a thought leader in women's issues and global higher education, frequently speaking at national conferences and contributing to scholarly discussions on these topics.124
Community Engagement
Stefanco is involved with several boards and organizations aimed at promoting educational equity and women's leadership. Her extensive experience includes serving as a board member for the International Leadership Association and participating in various initiatives to support women's advancement in academia.23
Overall, Carolyn Stefanco exemplifies a commitment to leadership development and advocacy for women in higher education, making her a valuable member of Chief and an influential figure in her field.
Highlights
It was so exciting to join leadership scholars, practitioners, and journal editors from around the world at the University of Colorado Boulder, my undergraduate alma mater, for the International Leadership Association (ILA) Future Forward Leadership Summit.
Designed to be a "beacon of insight-fostering dialogue, and encouraging collaborative efforts among leaders and experts, [and] ultimately reshaping the narrative and practice of leadership on a global scale," the Summit delivered on these promises--and more. Keynotes, workshops, and breakout discussion groups gave the participants ample time to reflect on this transformative moment in leadership, and how we can embrace innovation to steer the course for what leadership excellence means in the 21st century.
Thanks to Cynthia Cherrey, ILA president and CEO (pictured left middle); Dr. Stefanie K. Johnson, the director of the Center for Leadership at CU Boulder and the conference chair (pictured far left); and Trisha Gott, associate dean for academic affairs at the Staley School of Leadership at Kansas State University (pictured far right) and all who contributed to the planning, knowledge sharing, and spirit of enthusiasm about the future of leadership globally. It was especially wonderful to spend time with colleagues Joanne Barnes, Michael Chikeleze, Lisa DeFrank-Cole, Jay Gary, PhD, APF, and Susan Elaine Murphy.
#leadership #globalleadership #leadershipdevelopment
