Jodi Bailey Accavallo was named a NASPA Foundation 2027 Pillar of the Profession.

Vice President for Student Affairs Jodi Bailey Accavallo has been named a NASPA Foundation 2027 Pillar of the Profession, one of the highest honors in the field of student affairs and higher education. Bailey is one of 20 leaders in higher education to be recognized nationwide and the only recipient from Pennsylvania.

NASPA is the leading association for the advancement, health and sustainability of the student affairs profession.  

“The NASPA Pillars of the Profession recognizes individuals at the top of their fields. We are proud to see Jodi representing Temple on a national level with this well-deserved honor,” said Temple President John Fry. “Student success is at the heart of our strategic plan, Forward with Purpose, and Jodi’s achievement reflects the excellence and impact she brings to our students and the university community every day.”

Presented annually, the award honors leaders, teachers and scholars who have left a significant legacy on the student affairs field. Bailey currently serves as co-chair of NASPA’s National Coalition on Student Success and learned that colleagues from Temple and her former institutions came together to nominate her.

“It was such a surprise, I had no idea I had even been considered,” she said. “It has been very flattering. You do good work because of where your passion lies and to be recognized for that is a real honor.”

NASPA represents two- and four-year institutions and technical schools across the United States and internationally. Student affairs leaders are nominated and supported for designation as a Pillar by colleagues, students, friends or others for their leadership and demonstrated professional distinction in student affairs fields and/or higher education. If selected as a Pillar, the nominator and selected Foundation Board member will raise $3,500 in the name of the individual being nominated to further research and scholarship in student affairs.    

Bailey and this year’s Pillar recipients will be formally honored at the 2027 NASPA Annual Conference at National Harbor, Maryland on Tuesday, March 9.

“Representing Temple every single day is an honor for me. I love our university, and I love the work that we’re doing to create a community for our students to thrive,” she said.  

Bailey has been involved with NASPA in various leadership capacities for more than 25 years and regularly presents at student affairs conferences.

“Whenever we’re at NASPA events and someone says, ‘You’re at Temple,’ I get to say ‘yes, I am,’ and share a little bit of the story about what it means to be in Philadelphia, and who our students are is not something I take lightly. When you can represent your university in spaces like this and to highlight the work that we’re doing, that is a great honor to carry.”