Denise Henning Selected to Serve on ACPA Leadership Council

Denise Henning, director of UNCW’s Community College Collaborative (UNCW/3C), has been selected to serve on the ACPA Leadership Council for 2026–2027. ACPA—College Student Educators International is a leading association of higher education and student affairs researchers and practitioners.

“I am profoundly honored to be nominated and selected for this position, as it reflects my life’s work as an advocate for higher education for people who are underrepresented,” Henning said. “Opening doors and creating educational opportunities for diverse students, also allows me to honor those who believed in me and supported me on my education journey. I’m excited to collaborate with outstanding leaders who share this commitment.”

Henning, who is Cherokee/Choctaw, was a first-generation student. She credits her community college experience with opening doors that ultimately led to a Ph.D. and a lifelong career in education.

Now in her 34th year in higher education, Henning has held senior leadership roles in the United States and Canada and has served as graduate faculty in New Zealand. Since 2021, she has worked as an Equity Champion Consultant for the Racial Equity for Adult Credentials in Education (REACH) Collaborative. In 2024, she was selected for the fifth cohort of the Hunt Institute’s Elevate NC: Higher Education program, which brings together influential leaders to develop strategies that strengthen educational pathways, increase postsecondary attainment and narrow equity gaps across North Carolina.

Henning has served as director of UNCW’s community college–university partnership, UNCW/3C, since its founding in 2019. She is also a faculty member in WCE’s Department of Educational Leadership, where she teaches in the Ed.D. program with a community college specialization and coordinates WCE’s Community College Leadership Certificate program.

About ACPA

ACPA-College Student Educators International is a leading association of higher education and student affairs researchers and practitioners. With more than 6,500 members, the organization advances college student learning, development and success through research, professional development and advocacy.