RIHETC Fall 2026 Workshop Schedule

A limited number of seats may be available for staff from non-member higher education institutions. Please send inquiries to amclean@rihetc.org.

Leadership at ALL Levels - 7 Strategies to Build Trust, Influence and Impact

Leadership is often confused with authority. While a title may come with authority: leadership is earned through influence.

In higher education, some of the most influential people are not necessarily those with the biggest titles. They are the people who build trust, ask thoughtful questions, share credit and make it easier for others to succeed.

In this engaging workshop, Gail Lowney Alofsin invites participants to see leadership as a series of everyday choices. Through stories, reflection and interactive discussion, participants will explore how credibility, communication, curiosity and attitude shape YOUR impact.

Difficult Conversations Using Your Strengths

Higher education professionals navigate difficult conversations constantly – delivering feedback, setting boundaries, saying no, addressing performance issues – yet most have little training in how to do this effectively, and default approaches often create tension and damaged relationships. This strengths-based workshop helps participants leverage their natural communication style as a foundation for handling these conversations strategically, using the CliftonStrengths framework to show how their strengths show up in conflict, where they may need to adapt, and how to practice conversations that maintain relationships while still addressing the issue.

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Tuesday, November 17, 2026 9:00 am to 12 pm

Facilitator: Anne Grieves

Location: Rhode Island College, Gaige Hall Rm. 200, 600 Mount Pleasant Avenue, Providence

Navigating Change: Co-Creating a Path Forward

Higher education is navigating rapid, interconnected and unprecedented changes. In recent conversations with higher education professionals from Ivy Leagues to state schools, several key pressures consistently come to the forefront: budget cuts and hiring freezes, the fast-paced evolution of AI, changing government policies, and growing uncertainties around international enrollment, employment and immigration.