Kevin Sanders, DMA, ACC
Academic Dean, Executive Coach, Artist by Training
I support faculty and leaders in crafting a clear vision, navigating conflict, and building buy-in. Together we create the clarity and confidence to drive meaningful success on their campuses while honoring the human side of leadership.
Kevin has spent more than two decades in higher education at regional universities and public and private R1 institutions. As a director and dean, he led significant enrollment growth at two institutions, opened a $44M performing arts center, and guided teams of more than 100 faculty and staff through new academic programs and accreditation reviews. What energizes him most is partnering with other academic leaders as they navigate their roles, build the skills those roles demand, and accomplish the goals they set for themselves.
His background as a classically trained musician shapes how he approaches leadership and change. The skills he honed as an artist, including discipline, collaboration, adaptability, connection, and creative problem-solving, have served him in everything from managing diverse teams to guiding institutions through organizational change.
In his coaching, Kevin partners with academic leaders on their most pressing challenges:
- Managing organizational change with clarity and confidence
- Building cohesive, high-performing teams
- Aligning institutional goals with personal purpose and values
- Creating organizational systems for efficiency and impact
Clients work with him to uncover roadblocks, embrace new perspectives, and move forward. His process is collaborative and built on self-discovery, so leaders leave with decisions that serve both their institutions and the people they lead.
Beyond coaching, he enjoys writing The Academic Leader’s Playbook, a weekly newsletter read by campus leaders on more than 700 campuses in over 50 countries.
Kevin is a certified executive coach (ICF), facilitator, change management practitioner (Prosci), and Gallup Strengths Coach. He completed executive education at Harvard and design thinking training at Stanford’s d.school, and he is a Fellow of the Academy for Innovative Higher Education Leadership (Georgetown and Arizona State). He holds degrees from Indiana University, The Juilliard School, and Michigan State University.
Testimonials
“Kevin Sanders brings a rare combination of thoughtfulness, supportiveness, and effectiveness to his leadership coaching. Many leaders excel in one or two of these areas, but Kevin consistently demonstrates all three—and he does so with a focus on empowering others, not serving himself. His coaching is a testament to his commitment to helping higher education leaders grow, succeed, and make a meaningful impact.” – Michael Grose, Associate Dean, School of Music & Dance, University of Oregon
“Kevin’s coaching has been invaluable for this department chair. He brings the wisdom of someone who has been there and creates a safe space for leaders in higher ed to assess what’s normal and what’s unusual. Sometimes it can be hard to see past the institutional waters in which you are swimming, so Kevin’s perspective can be a great reality check. When meeting with Kevin, I also felt that he cared about my well-being as a person, as well as my success as a chair. His systems help higher ed leaders make space for other aspects of their lives while also improving structures in the organizations. I’m a calmer department chair as a result of my work with Kevin.” – Katherine Fusco, Chair, Department of English, University of Nevada, Reno