Dr. Conway Campbell Honored with Diamond Award for Transformative Leadership in Student Success
Conway Campbell, Ed.D, Vice President for Student Success, has been honored with a 2025 Diamond Award from the Not Alone Foundation. The Academy of the Diamond Awards is held every year, honoring community leaders in higher education, religion, and the non-profit sector. Campbell’s award honors those who have made significant contributions to enhancing student engagement, retention, and overall success.
“All the work that I do is for our students,” said Campbell. “So, if I’m being recognized, our students are being recognized–and I’m deeply honored for that.”
Campbell has been at Assumption since 2003 and has served in higher education for over 30 years, holding positions in residential life and student success at multiple colleges and universities. His work is dedicated to ensuring that all students can thrive throughout their experience in higher education.
“[Dr. Campbell’s] remarkable journey—from immigrating to the United States at the age of 14 to becoming a transformative leader at Assumption University—illuminates the power of education and mentorship,” said Mark Dodd, Founder, Executive Chairman, and CEO of the Not Alone Foundation.
In announcing the award, Dodd said of Campbell: “Your personal narrative resonates deeply with many, showcasing not only the barriers you have overcome but also the invaluable support you have extended to countless students. Your initiatives demonstrate your proactive dedication to fostering a sense of community and belonging among students.”
Campbell was selected for the award after Dodd discovered Assumption’s Students Involved in Bettering Success Program (SIBS). SIBS has morphed into other initiatives over the years, but its overarching goal, helping students stay connected with others on campus, has remained the same.
“We wanted to get a sense of which students weren’t involved with any clubs and organizations and connect them with someone from a club or organization they are interested in who would go to a meeting with them,” Campbell said.
Student Success is still focused on connections, making sure that all students feel valued, encouraged, and welcome on Assumption’s campus.
“Our work is focused on mapping the student experience,” said Campbell. “We realize that there are still specific student populations that might need a little bit more support–one of our initiatives right now is better understanding how commuters are connected on campus. But we shifted our focus this semester to looking at the entire student population and asking, ‘how do we elevate the student experience for all?’”
The team in Student Success has also implemented what they are calling “three-a-days,” where they are encouraging people on campus to find three students to have meaningful interactions with on campus each day.
“Through that, we can spread our net a little wider across campus and encourage people to connect with students,” Campbell said. “Our students are busy people, we’re busy people, but finding time for those brief interactions can have a lasting impact on a student’s sense of belonging.”