Dr. Lorie Kittendorf is a higher education leader with more than 25 years of experience creating programs and strategies that help students succeed, build connections, and navigate the challenges of college. As Assistant Vice President for Access and Community Programs at The University of Tampa, she leads initiatives supporting first-generation, Pell-eligible, and other students who may face barriers to persistence and graduation.
Throughout her career at both public and private institutions, Dr. Kittendorf has built departments and programs from the ground up, secured and managed grant funding, and developed mentoring, retention, transition, and leadership initiatives serving thousands of students. Much of her work bridges student affairs and academic affairs, with a particular interest in using data to understand the student experience, tell meaningful stories, and guide institutional decision-making. Her experience also includes assessment, accreditation, basic needs initiatives, campus climate efforts, grant writing, and the development of peer mentoring and student support systems.
Dr. Kittendorf is an experienced facilitator and educator who enjoys creating opportunities for people to better understand themselves, their teams, and the communities they serve. She teaches leadership development and first-year seminars and facilitates the Grant Writing Certificate Program through the Nonprofit Leadership Center, helping nonprofit professionals strengthen their ability to develop competitive and compelling grant proposals. As a Gallup Certified Strengths Educator, she has also been engaged by local nonprofit organizations to facilitate CliftonStrengths conversations with staff teams and Boards, helping groups better understand their collective talents, team dynamics, and opportunities for collaboration.
Professionally, Dr. Kittendorf has been actively involved with NASPA for more than 25 years, serving on state and regional boards and on the NASPA Annual Conference planning committee. She has also contributed to the profession as a reviewer for conference programs and professional awards and as a reviewer for the Journal of First-Generation Student Success. These experiences have allowed her to contribute to the profession at multiple levels while staying connected to emerging practices, ideas, and colleagues across higher education.
Dr. Kittendorf holds a Ph.D. in Higher Education Administration, an M.Ed. in College Student Affairs, and a B.A. in Visual Communications with a minor in American Sign Language. Her professional credentials include Gallup Certified Strengths Educator, Certified Workplace Mediator and Trainer, NASPA Certified Peer Educator Trainer, a Certificate in Grant Writing from the Nonprofit Leadership Center, and a Certificate in Interfaith Leadership.
Outside of higher education, she volunteers with Girl Scouts of West Central Florida as a troop leader and Gold Award coach. She is also a longtime Broadway fan and enjoys attending shows with her musical theater daughter who just started her college journey.