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National Association of Presidential Assistants in Higher Education

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NAPAHE Opens Applications for Conference Grants and Annual Awards

August 2026

The National Association of Presidential Assistants in Higher Education (NAPAHE) is pleased to announce that applications and nominations are now being accepted for conference grants and annual awards in conjunction with NAPAHE's 40th Annual National Conference and Business Meeting, scheduled for February 24-26, 2027, in Tucson, Arizona.

To support member participation in the conference, NAPAHE will award four $1,000 conference grants to assist members with the cost of attendance. These grants are designed to help make professional development opportunities more accessible and support engagement in NAPAHE's national community.

NAPAHE is also accepting nominations for its annual recognition awards:

  • Distinguished Service Award, recognizing outstanding contributions to the growth and success of NAPAHE.
  • Professional Achievement Award, honoring individuals who have achieved significant professional success and made meaningful contributions to higher education.
  • Emerging Leader Award, a new recognition established as part of NAPAHE's 40th Anniversary celebration. This award honors exceptional professionals under the age of 40 who demonstrate leadership, innovation, and commitment to the future of executive support in higher education.

"NAPAHE's grants and awards program celebrates the people who strengthen both our profession and our association," said Executive Director Stuart Schmidt. "Whether you are seeking support to attend the conference or know a colleague deserving of recognition, we encourage members to take advantage of these opportunities."

Additional information regarding eligibility requirements, application procedures, and nomination guidelines is available on the NAPAHE website.

Learn More and Apply:
Conference Grants and Awards

Help Shape the Future of NAPAHE: Complete Our Member Needs Survey

Dear NAPAHE Community,

As a member-driven association, NAPAHE's future is shaped by the experiences, needs, and aspirations of the professionals we serve. Over the past year, NAPAHE developed and adopted a new strategic plan that establishes a roadmap for strengthening professional development, enhancing member engagement, growing our community, and ensuring that our programs continue to provide meaningful value to members across all career stages and institutional types.

To help us achieve those goals, we invite you to complete the NAPAHE Member Needs Survey, linked below:

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/NAPAHE2026MemberNeeds

This survey is one of the most important research initiatives we have undertaken as an organization. The results will help us better understand the needs, experiences, priorities, and professional development interests of current members, former members, and prospective members so that we can make informed decisions about the future of NAPAHE.

Your feedback will help us identify the knowledge, skills, resources, and opportunities that matter most to our community. The results will directly inform future professional development offerings, conference planning, member engagement strategies, affinity group development, and other priorities outlined in NAPAHE's strategic plan. Just as importantly, the survey will help us better understand the evolving needs of professionals across different roles, career stages, and institutional contexts so that NAPAHE can continue to provide meaningful value to its members.

Click Here to Complete the Survey

The survey should take approximately 20-25 minutes to complete.

Survey Deadline: Friday, September 4, 2026

Because NAPAHE is an association by its members, for its members, your voice matters. Whether you are a long-time member, new to NAPAHE, a former member, or someone who has never belonged to NAPAHE, your perspective will help guide our decisions and investments over the coming years.

We are committed to using the findings from this survey to shape future programming, member services, conference offerings, and engagement opportunities. The more perspectives we hear, the better equipped we will be to ensure NAPAHE remains relevant, valuable, and responsive to the needs of our profession.

Thank you in advance for your time, your honesty, and your investment in the NAPAHE community.

With appreciation,

Stuart J. Schmidt
Executive Director
NAPAHE

P.S. Please consider completing the survey as soon as possible and sharing it with colleagues who may have received the invitation. Every response helps us build a stronger and more responsive NAPAHE for the future.

NAPAHE Launches New Career Center to Support Career Growth and Talent Recruitment

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Tuesday, July 28, 2026

VICTORIA, TX — The National Association of Presidential Assistants in Higher Education (NAPAHE) is pleased to announce the launch of the NAPAHE Career Center, a new online career destination designed to support the professional growth of individuals who serve and support higher education leaders while helping institutions connect with exceptional talent. Powered by YourMembership/Momentive, the Career Center expands NAPAHE's commitment to strengthening the professions of its members through professional development, networking, and career advancement opportunities.

More than a traditional job board, the NAPAHE Career Center provides a comprehensive suite of career development tools for professionals at every stage of their careers. Whether members are pursuing their next opportunity, exploring long-term career pathways, or seeking to recruit qualified candidates, the platform offers resources designed specifically for the higher education leadership support profession.

"At NAPAHE, we believe the professionals who support higher education leaders deserve access to the same high-quality career development resources, professional networks, and growth opportunities as the executives they serve," said Stuart J. Schmidt, Executive Director of NAPAHE. "The NAPAHE Career Center reinforces our commitment to being the professional home for these dedicated professionals by providing a centralized destination where they can discover opportunities, access expert guidance, and continue advancing their careers."

The new Career Center serves a broad community of professionals working across higher education, including executive assistants, presidential assistants, chiefs of staff, governance professionals, board secretaries, and other individuals who support institutional leaders.

Key Features of the NAPAHE Career Center

For Job Seekers

  • Search career opportunities from colleges, universities, associations, and other higher education organizations.
  • Upload and manage resumes.
  • Create customized job alerts.
  • Explore career advice and professional development resources.
  • Access career planning tools and guidance for professional advancement.

For Employers

  • Reach a highly qualified audience of higher education professionals.
  • Promote open positions to NAPAHE's national network.
  • Recruit talent with experience supporting senior leaders and executive offices.
  • Increase visibility for specialized leadership support and administrative positions.
  • A Complete Career Development Destination

In addition to job postings and recruiting tools, the NAPAHE Career Center includes robust career development resources that help professionals navigate every stage of their career journey.

Members and visitors can access:

  • Expert career advice and job-search guidance.
  • Resume and cover letter resources.
  • Personal branding and networking strategies.
  • Interview preparation tools.
  • Career planning resources.
  • Career insights, salary information, labor market data, and occupational trends.

Future enhancements will include optional career coaching services, providing personalized guidance for professionals seeking additional support with career planning, resume development, interviewing, salary negotiation, and leadership growth.

The launch reflects NAPAHE's ongoing mission to strengthen the profession and support the success of those who work alongside higher education's senior leaders.

"The NAPAHE Career Center is another way we are investing in our members' professional journeys," Schmidt added. "Whether someone is searching for a new role, developing new skills, exploring future career pathways, or recruiting outstanding talent, this platform delivers meaningful value to our community."

To explore the NAPAHE Career Center, visit:
https://careers.napahe.org

About NAPAHE
The National Association of Presidential Assistants in Higher Education (NAPAHE) is the premier professional association for individuals who support senior leaders in higher education. NAPAHE strengthens the professions of its members through programming, networking, and professional development opportunities that address the broad range of roles fulfilled by professionals serving higher education leadership. For more information, visit www.napahe.org.

About YourMembership/Momentive
YourMembership, established in 1998, empowers associations, organizations, nonprofits and other companies worldwide to deliver more value to their users, drive non-dues revenue through innovative career centers and buyer’s guides, increase their relevance using ground-breaking engagement tools, and enhance overall operational efficiencies. YourMembership's cloud-based membership management solution enables associations to effectively brand their organizations, engage their customer bases, and streamline their administrative processes. As the world’s largest provider of membership and company management software, YourMembership provides comprehensive membership solutions to more than 5,000 customers in 32 countries.