Leading with Purpose to Strengthen Campus Belonging

Naomi Sigg, Vice President for Student Experience and Campus Belonging, John Carroll University

Naomi Sigg, Vice President for Student Experience and Campus Belonging, John Carroll University

Naomi Sigg is a transformational higher education leader who champions equity, belonging and student success with conviction and heart. She brings together data-driven insight, deep listening and a servant-leadership approach to build communities where every student feels genuinely seen, supported and empowered to thrive.

Shaping Leadership Through Experience: Honoring Opportunity with Purpose

As an immigrant, I was raised with the deep belief that education is the key that opens the door to opportunity. My parents instilled that value in me, and it has shaped every step of my career. I carry that lesson with a profound sense of responsibility both to honor the opportunities I’ve been given and to ensure I’m creating opportunities for others.

My leadership philosophy is rooted in service: making things easier for others, helping them move forward and clearing barriers where I can. I believe strongly in lifting others as I climb. To me, true leadership means developing and empowering people so that they are prepared to lead even better than we did. That sense of purpose, care and collective progress guides me every day.

Sustaining Belonging Today: Through Shared Community Leadership

Belonging requires intentionality, collaboration and shared stewardship. I believe in creating spaces that genuinely welcome every person, and I do this by engaging champions across campus who represent a wide range of identities and lived experiences.

“For me, belonging is something we create together and my role is to convene, encourage and empower others to shape that culture with me.”

This approach has been central throughout my career from my time as Executive Director of the Midwest Asian American Student Union, where I supported student organizations across the region in building community, to my work today with groups like our Veterans Student Association as we reimagine their lounge and programming.

I have also helped build and sustain employee resource groups to ensure that faculty and staff have community, connection and support in all their identities. For me, belonging is something we create together, and my role is to convene, encourage and empower others to shape that culture with me.

DEIB Training Insights: Listening That Drives Action

My approach to inclusion starts with listening, truly listening. Every person and every group deserves to be heard, respected and invited to help co-create positive change.

Through my work with the Sustained Dialogue Campus Network, I learned the power of small groups who meet consistently, listen deeply enough to be changed by what they hear and then act collectively to improve their communities. I bring that same philosophy to our campus: inclusion happens when people’s voices shape the solutions, not just the conversation.

Elevating Student Experience: Data-Led Representation in Action

As an Asian American woman, standing at the front of a room teaching, speaking, advising or training is itself a form of representation that challenges assumptions and expands the narrative of who leaders can be.

My background in assessment and evaluation allows me to pair that representation with outcomes. I look closely at student experiences, identify where gaps or opportunities exist and use data to guide decisions that lead to measurable improvements. Combined with my advising and communication experience, these strengths help ensure our work is both evidence-informed and deeply relational.

Navigating Leadership Challenges: Centering Hope Through Accompaniment

One of the greatest challenges today is maintaining a sense of hope especially for our students in a time when higher education faces many pressures. Working at a Jesuit institution has taught me the importance of accompaniment: walking with students toward a hope-filled future and helping them see their own potential, growth and purpose.

I work intentionally to center hope, even in difficult moments and to encourage our teams and students to believe in what is possible. That grounding keeps me focused and helps guide our community through periods of uncertainty.

Future Student Experience: Technology And Human Connection

Technology, especially AI, will reshape our field in significant ways. We must become quick learners and embrace these tools not as obstacles but as opportunities to enhance learning, advising and student support.

At the same time, I believe the future will require us to reconnect more deeply with one another. As technology accelerates, the human dimensions of the education community, presence and empathy will matter even more.

Our nation is also becoming increasingly diverse and higher education must be ready to serve students with a broad range of identities, perspectives and needs. Listening to those voices will lead us to the strongest, most innovative solutions.

Growing As Higher Ed Leaders: Learning with Purpose and Empathy

To thrive in higher education leadership, individuals need a commitment to continuous learning, the humility to listen deeply and the courage to lead with empathy. Skills in collaboration, assessment, communication and adaptive thinking are essential, but just as important is the ability to build trust, honor people’s stories and navigate change with steadiness and hope.

Leaders who stay grounded in purpose, remain curious and serve others with integrity will always make a lasting impact.