Elevate Leadership Program
The same inspiration driving Boston College’s Division of Student Affairs to provide programs and services that care for the whole student now extends to the employees of its 15 affiliated departments through a new, yearlong professional development initiative.
The Elevate Leadership Program—grounded in the key Jesuit value of cura personalis and launched during the 2024-2025 academic year—is designed to support Student Affairs’ early-to-mid-level professionals, according to Associate Vice President for Career Services and Integrated Learning Joseph Du Pont.
“The program blends leadership development, mentorship, and mission-centered reflection in a way that is uniquely aligned with our Jesuit, Catholic values,” he said. “It’s also part of a broader strategic effort to enhance staff formation, community, and ‘belonging’ across the division.”
Du Pont explained that Elevate, inspired by Management Development Perspectives and the Ignatian Leadership Development programs, and created by working closely with colleagues in University Mission and Ministry and Human Resources’ Office of Employment Development, builds leadership capacity while fostering reflection, community, and mission-driven practices.
The initiative includes new practices for integrating new employees, mentoring opportunities, and mid-career advancement pathways.
Student Affairs Vice President Shawna Cooper Whitehead
“This effort recognizes that supporting the development of our professionals is essential to fostering a thriving, mission-aligned campus culture,” he said. “Cura apostolica—care for the work—plays a significant role in the program. If our staff feels greater alignment with the University, it will translate into the work they do.”
“Part of the impetus for establishing the program was that our division is large and we cannot get all staff into Management Development Perspectives or the Ignational Leadership Development Program, both offered by Human Resources,” said Vice President for Student Affairs Shawna Cooper Whitehead. “If we demonstrate our commitment to our staff, we hope it trickles down to our student experience.”
“I’m so grateful for Elevate! This program has blown my expectations out of the water,” said Assistant Dean for Student Conduct Kylie Windecker, resident director at Walsh Hall. “I applied to the program hoping to become more connected by meeting new people, obtaining mentorship outside of my department, and to learn and grow as a professional. All the sessions left me with a lot to reflect on but feeling more connected to Jesuit principles and my own values. The connections I’ve made with division peers and leadership are invaluable to me.”
Associate Vice President Joseph Du Pont
The program’s objectives are four-fold: strengthen leadership skills through structured learning and mentorship; deepen the understanding of Jesuit values and student-centered work; foster collaboration and community among emerging leaders in Student Affairs; and promote professional growth through practical application and reflection.
The program kicked off last July with the New Heights Retreat, a two-day, off-campus getaway that included workshops on self-awareness, reflection, and personal leadership style; community-building exercises to establish trust and camaraderie within the group; and guided discussions on integrating purpose, vocation, and leadership within a Jesuit framework. The initial cohort included 17 participants, each selected through supervisor nominations or direct applications.
“More than just a program launch, this immersive retreat exemplifies our broader commitment to reflective practice and community building,” said Du Pont. “By offering staff the time and space to engage in deep contemplation, explore their vocational identity, and build relationships across departments, New Heights served as a model for the formative experiences we aim to expand throughout the division.”
“Every time we run a module, have another experience, or even host the retreat we learn something,” said Associate Vice President for Student Engagement and Formation Colleen Dallavalle, who co-facilitated the program with Du Pont. “I’m excited to reflect on this year and continue to work with campus partners to innovate, design and enhance our program so it can continue to support the University’s priorities and prepare our Student Affairs professionals to be leaders in Jesuit higher education.”
Associate Vice President Colleen Dallavalle
Between September and May, monthly interactive sessions—rooted in BC’s mission and focused on topics such as managing teams, navigating change, and fostering inclusive leadership—were held, each one a two-hour session facilitated by internal and external experts.
Each participant was paired with a mentor from Student Affairs for ongoing monthly meetings focused on career development, leadership reflection, and mission integration. Participants were encouraged to meet with other cohort members to deepen their respective relationships and motivate peer-to-peer learning.
The program wraps up with a capstone presentation by each participant, focused on how the knowledge gained through the program has or will be applied, as well as their personal reflections on its impact on their leadership development, followed by a celebratory gathering among participants and mentors. Participant observations were overwhelmingly positive.
Participant Kristina Green Equi, associate director of sports medicine at the Murray Center for Student Wellness, was impressed with the New Heights Retreat.
“I thought the opening retreat was imperative for the development and growth that I experienced in this program,” she said. “Without it, the foundation for this program would have been lost. I also feel that the monthly interactive sessions allowed the space for us to break down retreat themes and practice these skills in smaller sections over time. Plus, mentorship was the component that allowed me the chance to talk through real-world applications of these skills and cemented my overall learning.”
Peter Kwiatek, assistant dean in the Office of the Dean of Students, lauded the coaching aspect.
“One of the most valuable aspects of the Elevate experience was the opportunity for mentorship,” he said. “Spending intentional time with a senior leader from the division allowed me to learn from their experiences, seek guidance, and have thoughtful conversations about leadership development.”
In addition to Elevate and the New Heights Retreat, two other complementary initiatives are shaping the overall program’s vision. The first, Purposeful Advising, was created by Student Affairs in partnership with Academic Affairs, and in collaboration with Lynch School of Education and Human Development Professor and Ascione Faculty Fellow Belle Liang, founder of the Purpose Lab—which focuses on cultivating purpose and belonging in schools and workplaces—to train Student Affairs professionals in the principles of purpose-centered advising.
“Purposeful Advising equips staff with the tools and language to guide students not only toward career readiness but toward lives of meaning, contribution and impact—essential to the Jesuit mission,” Du Pont said. “The synergy between this work and Elevate deepens our shared commitments to assisting both students and staff to reflect on who they are, and what is their calling.”
Shatoya White-Gay, a fiscal and operations specialist in the Student Affairs Business Service Center, praised Liang’s session on “The Art of Reflection and Discernment.”
“She encouraged me to pause and explore how my values shape my leadership in subtle and visible ways,” she said. “Her use of the Examina framework gave me language to better understand the ‘why’ behind my decisions. My mentorship experience also stood out, and it created space to process these insights in real time with someone who understood the nuances of the Elevate journey. Together, these elements grounded my leadership in reflection and relationship.”
The Vice President for Student Affairs Professional Development Signature Series, launched in 2023-2024, offers speakers and monthly workshops that gather national thought leaders, BC faculty, and staff to explore timely and critical issues in higher education such as mental health, free expression, identity, and leadership in complex times.
“Elevate, Purposeful Advising, the Signature Series, and the New Heights Retreat form a robust, mission-driven ecosystem of staff development,” said Du Pont.
He noted that Student Affairs was invited to share their staff development and community-building model at the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators annual meeting in March, and have been requested to present at the National Association of Colleges and Employers conference and Jesuit Association of Student Personnel Administrators Five-Year Institute, both in June.