Suzanne W. Summers, Ph.D.
Founder & Lead Consultant
Most consultants who work on faculty engagement have never been faculty. I have. I spent the majority of my career in the classroom and in faculty governance before serving as an academic dean, System AVP for Teaching and Learning, and Chief Academic Officer. That arc means that the work I do now is built on understanding both sides of the table.
My colleague Paul and I are co-writing a book on building student success cultures through human-centered leadership, and my consulting practice grows directly from that research — helping institutions build the human conditions that make reform durable rather than episodic.
I co-developed and co-lead a national academic leadership community of practice as a Gardner Institute Fellow. I hold a Ph.D. in History from the University of Texas at Austin, a Graduate Certificate in Organizational Change from Northwestern University, and am an ACE Fellowship.
Paul LePore, Ph.D.
Associate
I have spent the better part of my academic life at the intersection of teaching and scholarship. My career began with over a decade in the classroom and in faculty governance, experiences that underscore my belief that faculty engagement is the engine of any successful institution. Understanding the vital link between faculty autonomy and institutional mission is central to how I help campuses navigate change.
Currently, as an associate dean and clinical professor at Arizona State University, I lead initiatives focused on the holistic student experience, ranging from curriculum design to high-impact retention strategies.
A sociologist by training and a Gardner Institute Fellow, I previously served as a faculty member and assistant dean at the University of Washington. I earned my Ph.D. in Sociology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Today, I leverage this background to partner with campus leaders in building equitable frameworks that drive long-term institutional growth.