Board Chair Candidate Statement

It is with heartfelt dedication, and deep gratitude and pride, that I accept the nomination to serve as NASPA Board Chair. The student affairs profession and our cherished association have profoundly shaped my life and continue to inspire me daily. I am consistently moved by the countless professionals who devote themselves to nurturing, guiding, and empowering students. At this pivotal moment for higher education, my vision is to lead NASPA with humility and conviction—embracing the challenges before us and providing reassurance that our field is not only sustainable but essential to the well-being and advancement of colleges and universities worldwide.

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Board Chair Candidate Statement

I am honored to be nominated for NASPA Board Chair. NASPA has been my professional home for over 30 years—this community has shaped my leadership, deepened my commitment to student-centered practice, and connected me with colleagues whose wisdom and care have strengthened our field. Through service across the association I have championed collaboration, integrity, and a relentless focus on student success. I bring to this role a steady hand, a strategic mindset, and a values-based approach grounded in equity, belonging, and evidence-informed practice. 

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Dr. Amelia Parnell is an accomplished higher education executive and an internationally recognized thought leader regarding current issues and emerging trends in the field. She is a passionate advocate for higher education as a tool for personal advancement and impact, and she seeks opportunities to partner with organizations and individuals who share her sincere commitment to centering students' needs.

In her prior role as vice president for research and policy for NASPA, Dr. Parnell led many of the association's scholarly and advocacy-focused activities and fostered partnerships with college administrators, researchers, grant makers, and other higher education professionals.

As a frequent keynote speaker at national and regional conferences, Amelia presents on topics related to higher education, student affairs, college affordability, student learning outcomes, and institutions' use of data and analytics. She has been quoted in The Wall Street Journal, the Chronicle of Higher Education, Inside Higher Ed, and PBS NewsHour.

Amelia recently completed four years of service on the Board of Directors for EDUCAUSE, where she was Chair of the Finance & Investment Committee and the Audit Committee. She is also the past chair of the Higher Education Equity Network (HEEN), a collective impact network representing more than 25 organizations at the forefront of addressing racial equity in higher education.

Amelia enjoys opportunities to teach, and she is energized by making complex concepts easy to understand. She has had enriching engagements with students and peers as an adjunct instructor and lecturer and she is the author of the book, You Are a Data Person, which she wrote to encourage all higher education professionals to discover and embrace their unique data identity.

Amelia holds a Ph.D. in higher education from Florida State University and master’s and bachelor’s degrees in business administration from Florida A & M University.