For Dr. James F. Conneely, a 43-year career in higher education has been defined by leadership, service, and an enduring commitment to students. His professional journey has taken him from residence life to the presidencies of two universities, spanning nine institutions across eight states and nearly every type of higher education environment along the way. Yet, when reflecting on the philosophy that has guided his career, Conneely returns to a simple principle: keep students at the center.

After retiring from full-time institutional leadership three years ago, Conneely has continued to contribute to higher education through consulting work with AGB (Association of Governing Boards). Across four decades, his career has been marked not only by positions of increasing responsibility, but also by the relationships, mentorship, and professional communities that have shaped his work.

His induction into the SACSA Gavel & Gravel Society recognizes a career distinguished by sustained service to higher education and to the profession. For Conneely, however, SACSA represents something deeper than a professional association. Over the years, it became a community defined by lasting relationships, shared experiences, and a sense of belonging.

For him, SACSA became family.

From the residence hall to the presidency

Conneely’s professional trajectory began in the housing sector, where he initially served as hall director and later as graduate hall director. His career subsequently broadened across the domains of student affairs and enrollment management, eventually leading him to the university president.

This progression provided Conneely with a comprehensive view of higher education and introduced him to a diverse array of institutional settings. Over his career, he has been involved with private and public colleges, religious and secular institutions, single-gender schools, regional comprehensive universities, and leading research universities.

His leadership journey culminated in his appointment as President of Notre Dame of Maryland University, making him the first man to hold the role in the university's 125-year history. He subsequently served as President of the University of Maine at Augusta.

Despite the range of institutions and leadership roles that shaped his career, Conneely’s approach remained consistent: understanding the people, communities, and students at the heart of each institution he served.

A profession built on relationships

Conneely’s impact on higher education was not limited to the institutions he led. For more than three decades, he has also invested in the profession through SACSA, taking on leadership roles that have strengthened the association and created opportunities for others.

His involvement with SACSA began in 1993. Over the years, he served as SACSA President, Treasurer, Executive Council member, committee and task force chair, SACSA Scholar, and member of the Investment Committee. He also served as faculty for the SACSA/NASPA Region III New Professionals Institute and Mid-Managers Institute, contributing to the development of professionals at critical points in their careers.

Serving as President for the 2001 Conference right after 9/11 was a challenge, but it demonstrated the steadfastness that the Executive Council showed to ensure that SACSA would continue to move forward during an exceedingly difficult time. His work with the SACSA Foundation was particularly significant. As Foundation Chairperson from 2002–2005, Conneely helped lead efforts that increased the Foundation’s endowment by 250 percent, increased annual giving by 50 percent, and secured 501(c)(3) status.

Those accomplishments speak to the scale of his service, but they also reflect something central to how Conneely has approached his career: using leadership to build something that will outlast his tenure.

“SACSA gave me a chance to give back to the profession,” 

For Conneely, that opportunity was never simply about holding a position or adding another title to his career. It was about contributing to a profession that had given him so much and helping ensure that others could find the same sense of connection and opportunity within it.

The Responsibility of Leadership

A career focused on students naturally brings moments of deep joy, but Conneely also openly shares the experiences that have challenged and molded him over time.

Some of the moments that stayed with him most were those that reminded him just how deeply the work of student affairs can touch the lives of students and their families.“Everything else doesn’t matter when you deal with that.”

Those experiences gave Conneely a perspective that has remained with him throughout his career. They reinforced the importance of showing up for students, being present when it matters most, and recognizing the people behind every student experience.

He also reflected on the changing challenges facing students, including mental health concerns and broader pressures affecting campus communities. For Conneely, creating an environment in which students feel that campus is genuinely for them remains essential.

That belief has remained central to Conneely’s approach throughout his career. From his early work in residence life to his years leading universities, he has continued to see student affairs as an opportunity to create environments where students feel supported, valued, and connected to the institution they call home.

Students as the north star

A piece of guidance early in his career evolved into a guiding principle that defined Conneely’s leadership approach. While serving as a vice president, a supervisor advised him:

“Keep the students as your main focus, your North Star. Ninety-nine percent of the time you’re going to make the right decision.”

Conneely embraced this advice deeply, applying it even during his tenure as a university president and throughout his career, which included roles in institutional strategy, enrollment management, organizational leadership, and key decision-making; the North Star remained a steady guiding principle.

He stated, "You know, that’s what it’s all about. That’s why we do what we do." This seems to capture Conneely’s main professional belief. While higher education can quickly become complicated, its core goal stays simple: prioritizing students.

The legacy of how you treat people

When asked about his legacy, Conneely didn’t mention any specific presidency or achievement. He focused on integrity. “You may not agree with me or like me, and that’s okay,” he said. “But do not doubt my integrity, love for students, or honesty.”

Conneely considers integrity to be personal, not just about others’ perceptions but about living with one’s decisions. “Every day, I looked in the mirror and felt good about myself,” he explained. This philosophy also guides how he leads and treats those around them.

“As you advance, you’ll pass many people,” Conneely noted. “Treat them with respect and dignity, because everyone falls at some point.”

This message is particularly important in a field centered on relationships. Careers evolve, roles change, and individuals transition between organizations. Former colleagues, mentors, or students might support one another years afterward. For Conneely, respect and dignity are fundamental leadership qualities, not merely optional. "Respect and dignity,” he emphasizes, “are essential.”

An honor at the end of a long journey

Conneely’s first SACSA experience dates back to 1993, and over thirty years later, he joins an esteemed group of leaders and contributors whose efforts have shaped the association.

"This recognition of my contributions to SACSA,” he states, “really is the nice period at the end of my career." While he appreciates the honor, Conneely emphasizes perspective by saying, "We do not do this for recognition. Let’s be honest, if recognition is your goal, higher education, student affairs is not the way to go."

For him, the honor signifies acknowledgment from a professional community for decades of committed service to an association and profession that have become integral to his life. With over thirty years of experience with SACSA, Conneely recognizes how much the organization and its members have evolved over time. Nonetheless, his gratitude for being part of it remains strong. “It is an honor,” he affirms.

Still giving back

Retirement hasn't meant stepping away entirely. Conneely now acts as a consultant for AGBs, allowing him to share the wealth of experience he's gained over more than forty years in higher education. His connections with former students also persist. He recounts having dinner with a former student in Copenhagen just last year, a testament to the far-reaching impact a career in student affairs can have.

Relationships formed within a university can endure for decades and span thousands of miles. This is perhaps an understated benefit of a student affairs career: the enduring relationships that persist long after a role ends.

As Conneely prepares for induction into the Gavel & Gravel Society, his family will be present. His children, grandchildren, and some siblings will accompany him. After dedicating much of his career to SACSA, he will share this milestone with those who supported him.

What he leaves behind

Dr. James F.. Conneely defines his legacy through core values: love for students, integrity, respect, and dignity. He encourages remembering the “North Star” during difficult decisions.

For Conneely, his work’s true meaning isn’t about seeking recognition but about helping students, serving the profession, and establishing a leadership example for others. Being inducted into the SACSA Gavel & Gravel Society after forty years is a significant honor for him. Nevertheless, he emphasizes that his motivation remains unchanged: 'That’s why we do what we do.”