Jessica Uhlig

Transformational leadership and organizational development professional with 25+ years of experience developing people, strengthening teams, aligning organizational mission with practice, and designing leadership formation initiatives across higher education, nonprofit, and faith-based environments. Experienced in creating and facilitating leadership development programs for emerging leaders, faculty, staff, alumni, volunteers, and organizational leaders. Brings an interdisciplinary background in transformational leadership, organizational leadership, higher education administration, mission integration, student success, advancement, and community engagement.

Skilled in translating mission and organizational values into practical leadership behaviors, team practices, professional development, and strategic initiatives. Experienced facilitator, educator, mentor, retreat designer, and presenter with particular interests in women's leadership, mission-centered organizations, leadership formation, organizational culture, and developing people who develop others.

Program Administrator at North American Center for Marianist Studies (2025-11 – Present)

• Coordinate educational programs, including retreats and workshops focused on spirituality and history in the Church.
• Develop marketing and communications campaigns supporting educational programming and organizational engagement.

Vice President, Institutional Enrollment at Our Lady of the Lake University (2024-03 – 2025-11)

• Directed strategic planning efforts supporting recruitment and retention goals and long-term institutional success.
• Revamped processes to streamline operations and increase organizational efficiency.
• Provided leadership in developing enrollment vision, mission, values, and culture.
• Mentored junior staff in project-management best practices and analyzed key metrics to provide actionable recommendations.
• Built relationships with internal and external partners through regular communication regarding progress toward institutional objectives.

Dean, Academic Support Services at Saint Mary's University of Minnesota (2023-08 – 2024-03)

• Led a newly restructured Academic Affairs and Student Success area, building a cohesive team and creating a vision for strategic planning and implementation.
• Supervised leaders across Career Services, Libraries, Student Success, accessibility services, tutoring, and the First Generation Initiative.
• Served on the university Leadership Team and Provost Council, contributing to work in retention, career and vocational development, mission integration, academic standards, and related institutional priorities.
• Balanced the student-services budget through restructuring and innovation.

Associate Provost, Academic Administration & Mission Integration at St. Mary's University (2021-07 – 2023-08)

• Led Student Success and Retention strategic planning and implementation.
• Served on University Leadership and Academic Councils and led mission integration strategies and initiatives within Academic Affairs.
• Oversaw collaborative offices supporting student success and retention, including international programs, academic advising/tutoring, and TRIO.
• Served as Provost liaison to the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion office and developed Hiring for Mission workshops for new faculty.
• Supported institutional mission alignment through participation in the Mission Council and SACSCOC initial reaffirmation team.

Executive Director, Mission Centered Educational Associates at St. Mary's University (2018-06 – 2021-07)

• Developed transformational leadership development programming using foundation and mission-centered resources.
• Planned, coordinated, and facilitated mission-centered formation initiatives for lay faculty and staff committed to faith-based higher education and organizational charism.
• Collaborated with university chaplains, diversity officers, retreat leaders, and student peer ministers.
• Served as advisor/moderator for the President's Ambassadors student organization, supporting leadership development, spiritual formation, diversity, and hospitality.

Hispanic Outreach Manager at The Marianists (2015-03 – 2020-05)

• Developed and implemented a national database strategy to connect Hispanic community members with educational and spiritual development resources in Spanish.
• Strategy contributed to 10% growth in one year for a direct-mail fundraising campaign focused on Hispanic religious and cultural traditions.
• Translated newsletters, resources, and Provincial communications into Spanish to expand access and engagement.

Associate Director, Alumni Relations / Leadership & Volunteer Management at University of Dayton (2010-03 – 2015-04)

• Developed and facilitated leadership training for domestic and international alumni and created engagement opportunities for volunteer leaders.
• Recruited and trained volunteer leaders to strengthen peer-to-peer solicitation and leadership annual gifts ranging from $1,000–$25,000.
• Built young-alumni participation and engagement through peer-to-peer networks.
• Coordinated a university campus campaign in which 100% of faculty and staff were retained as peer volunteers, contributing to increased participation and gifts.

Associate Director, Leadership, Alumni & Multicultural Student Services at University of Dayton (2008-10 – 2010-03)

• Facilitated academic, social, and spiritual engagement initiatives through programming, mentoring, and counseling.
• Created cross-campus collaborations with faculty and staff implementing recruitment and retention programming.
• Created a peer-to-peer mentoring program supporting academic success for multicultural students.

Assistant Director of Admission at University of Dayton (1998-05 – 2008-09)

• Developed recruitment and financial-aid plans targeting secondary schools and selected scholarship candidates, with emphasis on African American and Hispanic students.
• Oversaw Alumni and Parent Admission Program participation, increasing alumni and parent engagement by 60% in local and international markets.
• Trained and supervised Student Ambassadors and developed Spanish-language marketing materials for new markets.

Admission Coordinator at Up With People International (1996-06 – 1998-05)

• Supported international recruitment and programming connected to travel and diversity-focused gap-year experiences in Europe and Canada.

Ed.D.