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A’darius Porter, ‘15 , M’18, Ph.D. ‘23

Director of Residence Life and Auxiliary Services

³ÉÈ˶¶ÒôÆƽâ°æ's Director of Residence Life and Auxiliary Services, A’darius Porter, Ph.D., has been making strides in leadership development through his participation in the prestigious NACUBO Emerging Leaders Program. This comprehensive program, which runs through April, offers a unique opportunity for emerging higher education leaders to hone their skills and build connections across the industry. 

"I love it,” Porter shared enthusiastically. “It helps me get a realistic assessment of how I’m doing as a leader.”  

The program convenes participants every Thursday for more than two hours to explore various components of leadership, including the Five Practices of Effective Leadership, Clear, Convincing Communication, Building Your Brand and more workshops.  

Selected as one of 77 participants, he finds particular value in the smaller cohort of six peers with whom he collaborates closely.  

"I have been relishing the opportunities to network and meet with other institution officers to discuss what is going on in higher education," Porter continued. "It’s been helping me pave the way and connect with other members of higher education with questions that I need answers to." 

A strong advocate for professional growth, the director’s journey into the program was inspired by a recommendation from ³ÉÈ˶¶ÒôÆƽâ°æ’s Vice President for Finance and Campus Operations Jennifer Lundy Ph.D., an officer within NACUBO. Recognizing his knack for numbers and leadership potential, Lundy encouraged him to explore opportunities through the organization. 

Reflecting on his motivation, he shared, "I want to ensure that I’m doing everything I can to empower the people who report to me. Whether they stay in their roles or move on, I want them to be able to say that their supervisor did everything they could to help develop their skills. In order to do that, I need to elevate my own skills—to understand how to assess where people are and provide guidance that helps them excel." 

Porter’s passion for leadership is grounded in his commitment to meeting the needs of his team and fostering their success. "I’m passionate about helping my team be the best they can be," he emphasized. "This program is giving me the tools to do just that—to diagnose challenges, provide guidance and ultimately help others achieve their goals." 

As ³ÉÈ˶¶ÒôÆƽâ°æ continues to nurture its leaders and foster innovation, Porter’s experience in the NACUBO Emerging Leaders Program serves as an inspiring example of professional development in action, further strengthening the university’s commitment to excellence in higher education.