NASPA Online Learning Community

Strategic Planning in Action: An Introduction for Student Affairs Practitioners

Includes a Live Web Event on 06/12/2025 at 1:00 PM (EDT)

Ania Peczalska

Director of Student Affairs Assessment, Research, and Planning

University of North Carolina Wilmington

Ania Peczalska has been involved in student affairs strategic planning for over three years with expertise in developing, tracking, and/or revising strategic plans and priorities at the university, divisional, and/or unit level. She worked for over ten years at Indiana University Bloomington in a variety of student-facing and administrative positions where she obtained an in-depth understanding of student affairs assessment and postsecondary student experience. Ania obtained her undergraduate degree at Saint Olaf College followed by a Master of Library Science, a Master of Arts in Folklore and Ethnomusicology, and a Ph.D. in Higher Education from Indiana University. Ania also has a strong background in both quantitative and qualitative research with research centered around student success, equitable assessment, and institutional support for students from underrepresented backgrounds including international students. Her publications include articles within the peer-reviewed journal Innovative Higher Education and the NASPA Leadership Exchange magazine. Ania additionally teaches a graduate assessment course at University of North Carolina Wilmington, holds a leadership position in the NASPA Assessment, Evaluation, and Research Knowledge Community, and regularly presents her research and assessment best practices at national conferences.

Kimberly Kruchen-Spaulding

Associate Director of Operational Excellence

University of Colorado Boulder

Kimberly Kruchen-Spaulding is an accomplished leader in supporting strategic initiatives, currently serving as the associate director in the office of the executive vice chancellor at the University of Colorado Boulder. In this pivotal role, Kim provides high-level strategic support to ensure the successful implementation of campus-wide initiatives. She excels in managing complex projects by formulating and executing long-term goals, optimizing organizational capabilities, and driving sustained success across these initiatives. Kim’s expertise spans change management, data-informed decision-making, and organizational effectiveness. Kim began her career at CU Boulder as a student activities coordinator, where she adapted programs that impact student success. At the University of Virginia, she earned her master's degree, conducted research, and contributed as an intern for the Council for the Advancement of Standards (CAS). Most recently, Kim led the Division of Student Affairs' efforts in assessment, research, and data analytics as its director, leveraging data-driven insights to enhance the student experience and organizational performance. With research interests in student development, mattering, and organizational psychology, Kim is an active volunteer in the field and currently serves as co-chair of the NASPA Assessment, Evaluation, and Research Knowledge Community.

As a concept, strategic planning promises opportunities for an organization to become more successful by assessing the future, setting goals, and devising ways to bring about those goals (Dooris, Kelley, & Trainer, 2004). This intentionality is critical in all types of functional areas and at all levels of organizations. However, in practice, strategic planning is often confusing given the number of models, methods, ideas, tools, and procedures. Confusion can also set in when professionals try to adapt a strategic planning process from a business centered field to student affairs. These challenges and countless external pressures make it difficult to successfully develop and implement a strategic plan in a unit, and/or for a division. 

Given these challenges, this presentation's intent is to initiate a conversation about a strategic planning model that works for student affairs. Specifically, the primary goal of this session is to develop, through discussion and application, the skills needed to successfully begin a strategic plan in an individual unit and/or for a student affairs division. The program has three additional goals; (1) develop an understanding of how to use assessment findings in a strategic plan; (2) evaluate frameworks and determine which framework is most applicable to their organization; and (3) the consideration of psychology and behavior that supports the successful development of a strategic plan. Covering each of these goals is critical given the growing need for strategic thinking and planning for all professionals.

Dooris, M. J., Kelley, J. M. and Trainer, J. F. (2004). Strategic planning in higher education. New Directions for Institutional Research, 2004, 5-11. https://doi.org/10.1002/ir.115

Learning Outcomes

1. Participants will understand strategic planning in the student affairs assessment context.

2. Participants will learn about different strategic planning frameworks.

3. Participants will practice applying strategic planning frameworks in their own workplace.

Components visible upon registration.