Jacky Neri Arias, Director of Student Experience and Inclusion, Accepted into National College Leadership Academy

Jacky Neri Arias, executive director of student experience and inclusion at Dominican University, has been accepted into a prestigious leadership program under the Council of Independent Colleges.

Arias was selected for the CIC’s Senior Leadership Academy (SLA). The academy is a year-long program allowing administrators in higher education to acquire knowledge, skills and experience in order for them to advance to a senior leadership position on campus.

Arias is one of just 40 individuals accepted into the SLA this year.

"The SLA is a unique opportunity to develop my professional network,” Arias said. “As a first-generation immigrant Latina professional in higher education, I come with cultural wealth and invaluable assets, and growing my professional network would only enhance my ability to be an effective leader."

Arias will attend seminars in Tampa, Florida and in Washington, D.C, and will participate in readings in leadership theory and practice, individualized executive coaching, mentorship, webinars, regional gatherings, book groups, campus visits and other activities that are developed by participants. She will also be involved in preparing an individualized Professional Experience Plan for presentation to the SLA.

Arias was nominated for the academy by Dr. Barrington Price, vice president of student success and engagement at Dominican University, who will serve as her mentor within the academy.

“In my application, I stressed the importance of having a diverse senior leadership and having leaders who approach their work from a justice, equity and inclusion lens,” Arias explained.

Arias took on the role of Dominican’s executive director of student experience and inclusion this year. The founding director of Dominican’s Center for Cultural Liberation, she has made diversity and inclusion efforts the focus of her career.

According to the CIC, since 2010, 153 participants who have completed the Senior Leadership Academy have gone on to advance within their careers. Participants have also strengthened their leadership within their current positions, the CIC noted.

The Council of Independent Colleges is an association of nonprofit independent colleges and universities, state-based councils, and higher education affiliates working to support college and university leadership, advance institutional excellence, and enhance public understanding of independent higher education’s contributions to society.

In addition to the SLA, the council cosponsors an Executive Leadership Academy to help prepare college and university provosts and vice presidents for advanced leadership roles.