In her new role, Gaither will oversee the offices of admission and student success, advancing the college’s enrollment vision and strategy.

Gaither, a 1979 graduate of C-SC, has been a member of the college’s faculty since 2003, teaching many finance courses. She earned the Helsabeck Prize for Excellence in Teaching in 2008 and the Presidential Service Award in 2012. She earned her doctorate in business administration in 2009 from North Central University in Prescott, Ariz. She was selected as a peer evaluator by the Higher Learning Commission in 2018, and she completed her first evaluation in the spring of 2019.

Before accepting her new role, Gaither was the associate dean for student success and assessment. In that position, she oversaw all academic advising, developmental education coursework, TASC (the academic success center for tutoring), disability services, First Year Experience courses, academic probation students, the retention program and the institution’s assessment for all academic and co-curricular departments.

Gaither was the general manager of a training and development consulting group for 15 years before coming to Culver-Stockton. She has served on the Canton School Board for six years, been the treasurer of her church and assisted with many youth sports teams and activities. She is a member of the American Association of University Women and the local Parent-Teacher Organization.

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People chosen for the year-long program are leaders in higher education who have been identified by their institutions as having the potential for more senior leadership positions. Gaither will participate in the SLA’s opening seminar from Nov. 1-3, 2019, in Baltimore, Md., and a closing seminar from June 21-23, 2020, in Washington, D.C., June 21–23, 2020. She also will undertake a mentoring program, work with experts, participate in webinars and engage in a series of readings and case studies during the academic year.

The Senior Leadership Academy is designed to prepare prospective leaders to assume positions as the chief officers in any division — including academic affairs, student affairs, finance, enrollment management and advancement — in independent higher education.

Gaither, a 1979 graduate of C-SC, has been a member of the college’s faculty since 2003, teaching many finance courses. She earned the Helsabeck Prize for Excellence in Teaching in 2008. She earned her doctorate in business administration in 2009 from North Central University in Prescott, Ariz.

Sixty-one percent of the participants in the first Senior Leadership Academy (2010–11) have advanced in their careers, and 28% of all participants in SLA thus far have earned more advanced positions.

The Council of Independent Colleges is an association of 770 nonprofit independent colleges and universities, state-based councils of independent colleges, and other higher education affiliates, that works to support college and university leadership and advance institutional excellence.

The Academy is co-sponsored by CIC, the American Academic Leadership Institute and Academic Search, Inc. Linda M. Bleicken, president of AALI, will direct the program. For more information about the Senior Leadership Academy, visit .

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