Professor Lynn M. Gangone’s professional journey spanned all aspects of higher education in the United States, moving in and between institutional and professional association leadership roles. She served in the senior leadership of four higher education professional associations in teacher education, federal and state education policy, and leadership/professional  development. She was a vice president, dean, and clinical professor of higher education at three US-based research universities and currently holds an affiliate faculty appointment at the University of Glasgow (UK), where she will be serving as a Fulbright Senior Specialist in fall 2025. She serves on the boards of the Global Network of Deans of Education, the Boston University Wheelock College of Education Executive EdD, the Denver Scholarship Foundation, and the Colorado Society of Association Executives.

Recently retired as President and CEO of the American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education (AACTE), Lynn is an outspoken and passionate advocate for education at all levels, and she consults, writes, and speaks on teacher education research and policy, higher education leadership, the advancement of underrepresented members of the academy, strategic planning, and change management. She is an author and editor of articles, book chapters, and books, including the Handbook for New College and University Presidents (Harvard Education Press, 2021). In 2023, she was honored to participate in the launch of the Registered Teacher Apprenticeship Program alongside former First Lady Dr. Jill Biden. Her 2014 TEDxMileHigh talk, “Shatter the ice—designing a new world of gender equity,” has been viewed by thousands.

Lynn received an Ed.D. and M.Ed. in higher and post-secondary education with a concentration in organizational change and leadership, from Teachers College, Columbia University; an M.S. and C.A.S. in counseling psychology from the University at Albany, State University of New York; and a B.A. in political science/history from the College of New Rochelle. She earned her CAE (Certified Association Executive) designation from the American Society of Association Executives in 2023. She is the President of Wise Leader Strategies LLC, where she provides coaching, consulting, and strategic advice for individuals and organizations. For fun, Lynn balances strength training with yoga, is an avid Nordic Walker, is reclaiming her golf game, is a voracious reader, and gets to enjoy hiking in Colorado, Scotland, and other locations with her wife (who she tries hard to keep up with!).

EDUCATION AND CERTIFICATIONS

• EdD, MEd  - Columbia University, Teachers College, New York, New York, Higher and Postsecondary Education, Department of Organization and Leadership
• MS, CAS - State University of New York at Albany, Albany, New York, Counseling Psychology
• BA -  The College of New Rochelle, New Rochelle, New York, Political Science and History
• Certified Association Executive (CAE), American Society of Association Executives
• Institute for Educational Management Certificate, Harvard University Graduate School of Education
• Certificate, Trustee Leadership Development, Lilly Foundation

EXPERIENCE

SELECTED SCHOLARSHIP AND PUBLICATIONS 

Gangone, L.M. (2024, Spring). The State of Teacher Education. California Council on Teacher Education Journal. 

Gangone, L.M. & Fenwick, L.J.  (2024) AACTE, the Profession, and the Future, Journal of Teacher Education, Volume 75(1) 2-12.

Antony, J.S, Cauci, A.M., Gangone, L.M. & Nicola, T. P. (Eds.). (2022) The College President Handbook: A Sustainable and Practical Guide for Emerging Leaders. Boston: Harvard University Press. 

Gangone, L.M. (2019, Fall). Pace and Presence: The Timing of Leadership. In Grehalva, R. and McCool, J. (Ed.), Influence: The Catalyst for Extraordinary Leadership. Atlanta, GA: Wheless Partners.

Gangone, L.M., Espinosa, L.L., and Johnson, H.L. (2016, September/October). Commentary-The Link between Presidential Ideology and State Policy: A Complex Equation. Public Administration Review, Volume 76:5. 

Gangone, L.M. (2016, Summer). Confronting the Myths Surrounding Women’s Leadership and Advancement. AAC&U Liberal Education, Volume 102:3. 

Gangone, L. M. & Lennon, T. (2014). Benchmarking women’s leadership in academia and beyond. In Madsen, S. and Longman, K. (ed.) Women and leadership in higher education. College Park, MD: International Leadership Association. 

Gangone, L.M. (2013, October 10). Is discrimination the reason more women are not in leadership roles? http:// shriverreport.org/is-the-discrimination-the-reason-there-arent-more-women-inleadership-roles-lynn-gangone/ 

Gangone, L.M. (2009). Higher Education Resource Services: Revolutionary leadership development. In Kezar, A. (Ed.), Rethinking Leadership in a Complex, Multicultural, and Global Environment: New Concepts and Models for Higher Education. Sterling, VA: Stylus Publications. 

Gangone, L.M. (2008). National Association for Women in Education: An enduring legacy. Journal About Women in Higher Education, Volume 1. Washington, D.C., NASPA—Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education. 

Gangone, Lynn M. and Kezar, Adrianna (2000). Meeting the leadership challenges of the 21st

Century: An evaluation of a national leadership institute [Electronic Version]. Initiatives: The Journal of NAWE, Volume 59:4. 

Gangone, Lynn M. (2000, April). Navigating turbulence: How nonprofit boards and staff can assess organizational viability. Refereed conference proceedings, Innovation, Change, and Continuity in Nonprofit Organization Conference, Midwest Center for Nonprofit Leadership, Kansas City, Missouri. 

Gangone, Lynn M. (Ed.). (1999). Initiatives on mentoring. Washington, D.C.: National Association for Women in Education. 

TEDxMileHigh (2014, June 14) “Shatter the Ice” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JBLc4Ekl3BA

Rocky Mountain PBS, Colorado State of Mind (2014, February 21). [Video File] “Women’s Pay Inequality.” 

DISSERTATION COMMITTEES

Benedictine University

Constance St. Germain. Women Disrupted: Female Academic Leaders’ Perspective and Experiences in For-Profit Online Education. EdD dissertation.

The Catholic University of America

Tabitha S. Harper. (2014). Investigating Relationships between the Subscales of the Mayer-Salovey-Caruso Emotional Intelligence Test and the General Ability Measure for Adults General Intelligence Test. PhD dissertation.

University of Denver

Danielle Sulick (2011). Persisting to Graduation: A Grounded Theory Exploration of Nontraditional Undergraduate Women’s Enrollment. PhD dissertation.

Maureen Silva (2010). Women Leaders Resolving Conflict in Higher Education: A Feminist Epistemological Perspective. PhD dissertation.

The George Washington University

Lindsay Mathers Addington (2011). Students’ Preferences for Information Sources during the Undergraduate College Search Process: The Influence of Technology. EdD dissertation.

Brian Sponsler (2011). State adoption of undocumented student tuition policy: An event history analysis. EdD dissertation.

Ruth Mensel (2010). Organizational study of the Executive Leadership Program in Academic Medicine (ELAM). EdD dissertation.

Trenace Richardson (2009). The role of spirituality in the leadership styles of African American women president. EdD dissertation.

Nicole Roop (2007). Exploring the existence of a subculture of student leaders. EdD dissertation.
Erika Henderson (2007). The relationship between service learning and self-reported attitudes of civic responsibility for community college students. EdD dissertation.

Fil J. Arenas (2005). Military distance education: The Navy college program for afloat college education (NCPACE) continuing effectiveness evaluation. EdD dissertation.

Rhonda Sturgis (2005). Team relationships within institutional advancement: Board of trustees, president, and vice president of institutional advancement. EdD dissertation.

John Yaeger (2005). Congressional influence on National Defense University. EdD dissertation.

Other institutions

Heath Boice-Pardee (2002). Educational philosophy as philosophy for student affairs: An examination of colleges and universities in New Jersey. Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey. EdD dissertation.

SELECTED THOUGHT LEADERSHIP (2024-2025)

Invited Panelist, “Better Together: Successfully Integrating Foresight and Strategic Planning,” American Society of Association Executives, August 2025

Invited Presenter, Global Network of Deans of Education Panel and “Quality Education Policy for Teacher Education in a Period of Disruption” Roundtable, International Study Association on Teachers and Teaching, July 2025

Invited Keynote, “Current Status of Teacher Education and Higher Education,” Congress of the Humanities and Social Sciences/Association of Canadian Deans of Education, June 2025

Invited Discussant, “Colorado Public Policy in Teacher Education/Higher Education,” Learning Policy Institute EdPrepLab, May 2025

Invited Closing Keynote, “Examining Innovation in a Period of Extreme Disruption: Exploring the Role of Education Policy,” Inaugural Global Network of Deans of Education Convening, September 2024

Invited Expert, Regional Convening to Support State Action to Advance the Education Professions,

U.S. Department of Education, June 2024

Invited Delphi Panel Member, “Reliability and Consistency in Judging New Teacher Practices,” University of Glasgow School of Education, May 2024

Invited International Expert and Opening Keynote, Teacher Education Symposium “A Time for a New Conversation,” University of Glasgow School of Education, May 2024

Invited Speaker, University of Edinburgh Moray School of Education, May 2024

Invited Panelist, “Crucial Conversations: Fostering Civil Discourse in Polarized Times,” American Society of Association Executive webinar, April 2024

VOLUNTEERISM AND PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS 

• Board member, Denver Scholarship Foundation, 2024-present.
• Board member, Colorado Society of Association Executives, 2024-present; Executive Committee member 2025-2026.
• Founding Board member, Global Network of Deans of Education, 2020-present.
• Advisory Board, Executive Ed.D. in Higher Education, Boston University Wheelock College of Education, 2024-present.
• Advisory Committee member, Learning Policy Institute Spencer Transformative Research Grant, 2023-present.
• Board member (ex officio), International Council on Education for Teaching, 2017-2024.
• American Society of Association Executives, and member, Executive Management Advisory Council (second term) and Association Insights Council (third term) 2017-present
• Board member, Learning First Alliance (2017-2024).
• Advisory Board member, Western Governor’s University Teachers College (2017-2023).
• Board member and Executive Committee member, American Association for University Women (2017-2020) .
• Board of Directors and Vice Chair of the Fund Development Committee, Girl Scouts of the United States of America (2014-2017).
• Board of Directors and Vice Chair of the Board, Public Service Credit Union ($1B+ in assets), 2010-2014; board secretary, board policy sub-committee chair (2010-12), and member of the executive committee.
• Board of Directors and Invited Member, International Women’s Forum, Colorado Chapter (2011-present); president (2014), president-elect (2013), and vice president, programs (2012).
• Board of Directors, Higher Education Resource Services, 2002-2015; treasurer and chair, finance and audit committee (2006-2008); chair, nominations and governance committee (2010-2012), ex officio representative for the University of Denver chancellor (2012-2015).

HONORS/AWARDS 

• Project Aspire “Inspire to Aspire” Award, 2014
• Rocky Mountain PBS “Makers” http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XQF1ysmko3E, 2014
• Colorado Black Women for Political Action “Women Making History” Award, 2013
• Colorado Women’s Chamber of Commerce “Twenty-Five Most Powerful Women in Denver” Award, 2013
• Woman of Distinction, Girl Scouts of Colorado, 2008
• Outstanding Achievement in Multicultural Excellence, Center for Multicultural Excellence, University of Denver, 2008
• Diamond Honoree for Service to Higher Education, American College Personnel Association, 2001
• Ursula Laurus Distinguished Service Citation, The College of New Rochelle, 1999