Academic Spotlight: Dr. Carole Beauchemin, Executive Director of Global Campus Academic Strategy

Dr. Carole Beauchemin believes in the power of higher education. With more than 30 years of experience across admissions, advising and academic operations overseeing liberal arts programs, she now serves as executive director of global campus academic strategy management at Southern New Hampshire University (SNHU). Beauchemin has earned her Master of Business Administration (MBA) from SNHU and her Doctor of Education from Northeastern University.

Recently, Beauchemin answered questions about her path into higher education, the experiences that have shaped her career, and the work that continues to inspire her at SNHU.

Can you tell us about your professional background?

My career spans over 30 years working in higher education and training and development. I have experience in all aspects of program oversight, including recruitment, student advising, academic operations, budget and curriculum planning, design and implementation. I have held leadership roles at small religiously affiliated colleges, state colleges and large private universities.

What first drew you to higher education?

To be honest, working in higher education was all about getting a job right out of college. This was not an industry where I said — YES, this is my true calling, higher education or bust, lol. I had an opportunity right out of school as a temporary admissions representative at a small state school near where I grew up. I figured that in this temp job I could assess if I liked the work and make decisions on securing a longer-term role from there. It turns out I loved the work.

Traveling across New England, meeting and helping so many students on their college search journey, especially first-generation students like me, was super rewarding. I also loved the community building with colleagues from so many other colleges — during the college fair season in the fall, it was like an extended family, traveling to common regions watching out for one another on “the road.” That temp admissions role set me on my path for what has been a long and rewarding career in higher education.

What aspects of your own education have been influential in shaping your career in academia?

I feel that my business degrees have been very helpful in realizing, and later in my career influencing others that higher education is indeed a business. Early on I approached admissions as “sales” – finding the right market for the schools I represented, coming up with the right pitch to share with students and their families and convince them to include the schools in their search.

As my career progressed, I interpreted the institutional needs, SWOT analyses, to help determine the next best steps in shaping the work, supporting the initiatives that could best serve the organization as well as providing the best experience (product) to our students.

By the time I pursued my EdD, it was all about strengthening the business background with full focus on teachings and learnings specific to the higher education industry.

What attracted you to this field of study? What keeps you excited about it?

What excites me about working in higher education is the fact that I can engage in work that has a lasting impact. I really value being part of something that supports learning, growth and opportunity. I enjoy roles where I can help remove barriers to support students so they can succeed.

Finding ways to improve how we work together within the university to offer the best programs and services to our students is rewarding. That sense of purpose is what makes higher education especially meaningful to me.

How have you found ways to effectively connect with students?

I have had limited opportunities here at SNHU to connect directly with students. Our commencement weekends have been so rewarding to meet students and hear of their experiences while on their journey to degree completion.

I loved the prior roles I had working in admissions and advising. As a first-generation student myself, I especially enjoyed helping first gen students and families understand and navigate the college process. The most rewarding experience was when I recruited students to the institution, then served as their academic advisor, celebrating their accomplishment at commencement.

What do you feel is unique about the faculty and students you work with?

What I appreciate most is the sense of purpose, the sincere interest in being part of rewarding experiences. Faculty are deeply passionate about their disciplines and their students’ success and students are actively shaping their futures.

As someone who focuses on academic strategy, what motivates me is helping create structures that support both groups — whether that is improving communication, streamlining processes or aligning initiatives with student success. Being able to contribute at that level, where strategy directly supports teaching and learning is exciting and rewarding.

What does SNHU’s mission to transform the lives of learners mean to you?

To me, transforming the lives of learners means creating the conditions where every student has the opportunity to discover what they’re capable of and opening doors they may not have thought possible. Education can change the trajectory of someone’s life — academically, professionally and personally.

I see my role as helping build those conditions at scale — aligning resources, improving processes and partnering with colleagues across the university. It’s gratifying to know that the strategic work behind the scenes can have a very real and lasting impact.

That is what motivates me to do my work. I approach the work in academic strategy with the question, ‘How will this decision ultimately help students succeed?’

Outside of work, what’s something you’re passionate about or really enjoy doing?

I really enjoy traveling to warm places, sitting by a beach or pool for some rest and relaxation. Some of these “happy places” that my family and I have had the good fortune to explore include Aruba, Hawaii, California, Florida and some really fun cruises in the Caribbean and Mexican Riviera.

Alexa Gustavsen ’21 is a content marketing specialist and writer at Southern New Hampshire University. Based in New Hampshire, she completed her bachelor's in creative writing and English on campus at SNHU. Currently, she is pursuing her master's in marketing online at the university. Connect with her on LinkedIn.