(BALTIMORE, Md.) – The director of housing & residence life at Notre Dame of Maryland University was selected for an inaugural leadership academy by the Association of College and University Housing Officers – International (ACUHO-I), leading organization for residence life professionals.
Dr. Courtney Allen is one of 13 campus professionals from around the country who were invited to join the ACUHO-I's 18-month program for Black women in higher education. The academy aims to develop stronger pathways for underrepresented professionals to advance in their career and volunteer leadership with ACUHO-I. The activities will include coaching calls, monthly meetings, and mentorship experiences, as well as the creation of a group capstone project. Dr. Allen and the other cohort members were recognized at the ACUHO-I Conference and Expo in June.
“I am really honored. It’s exciting to be able to work with other women who have similar experiences and know that you all are working toward the same goal of helping all students, particularly women of color,” said Dr. Allen. “I want to bring NDMU and what we’re doing with students to another level.”
The selected participants are thought-provoking professionals who bring a voice that broadens perspectives. Through the leadership academy, they will develop strategies to address challenges facing Black women in leadership and leverage their strengths and contributions to higher education. Dr. Allen looks forward to the opportunity to grow as a residence life leader, as she plans to add new programs and expand existing ones at NDMU, especially mentoring initiatives and living-learning communities.
“The leadership academy will help me continue to understand different populations of students because the needs of students always change,” said Dr. Allen. “It will help me to advocate for them in a more strategic way and gain some additional skills as a leader.”
ACUHO-I is a global membership of higher education institutions of all types and sizes and represents more than 17,000 professionals, who serve 1.2 million on-campus students. The organization is committed to cultivating diversity and inclusion in the leadership positions on campuses worldwide.
Established in 1895, Notre Dame of Maryland University (NDMU) is a private, Catholic institution in Baltimore, Maryland, with the mission to educate leaders to transform the world. Notre Dame has been named one of the best "Regional Universities North" by U.S. News & World Report.
