Dr. Leslie Rodriguez-McClellon is a recognized higher education and organizational leadership executive with more than 30 years of professional experience and over two decades of senior leadership guiding institutions, organizations, and communities through strategic growth, transformation, and sustainable change.

 

Her leadership experience spans state government, postsecondary education, nonprofit organizations, civic engagement, and community-based initiatives, where she has served as a president and senior executive officer within complex, mission-driven organizations. Through these roles, Dr. Rodriguez-McClellon has developed a deep understanding of organizational development, culture change, and operational effectiveness, helping institutions clarify vision, strengthen infrastructure, and achieve measurable results.

 

Known for her visionary and transformational leadership, Dr. Rodriguez-McClellon partners with organizations to align strategy with execution. Her work has resulted in strengthened institutional performance, enhanced organizational capacity, improved enrollment and retention outcomes, expanded community partnerships, and successful program innovation. She brings extensive expertise in:

​

• Strategic Planning & Organizational Transformation

• Organizational & Leadership Development

• Capacity Building & Change Management

• Enrollment Strategy & Student Success Initiatives

• Policy Development & Governance

• Fundraising & External Relations

• Workforce & Economic Development

• Community and Business Engagement

 

Dr. Rodriguez-McClellon brings extensive leadership experience across higher education, state government, and nonprofit sectors, providing a distinguished perspective informed by work within diverse institutional environments and complex organizational systems. Her career reflects a sustained commitment to advancing institutional effectiveness, strengthening leadership capacity, and guiding transformational change across mission-driven organizations.

In addition to her leadership in higher education and public service, she has experience with nonprofit initiatives focused on behavioral health, mentoring, substance abuse prevention, and faith-based community development, reinforcing her dedication to strengthening organizations that foster lasting community and societal impact.

 

A respected leader, beyond her executive roles, Dr. Rodriguez-McClellon, currently serves on the National Education and Empowerment Coalition, Inc. Board of Directors and has held governance and advisory positions with numerous national and regional organizations, including city and regional chambers of commerce, research and ethics, healthcare, economic development, art and cultural institutions, and community impact organizations across multiple states. Her board service reflects a lifelong commitment to community advancement and social impact.

 

She is also an experienced leadership facilitator and mentor who has designed and led leadership institutes and professional development programs focused on preparing the next generation of leaders. Her scholarly contributions include publications addressing leadership, organizational change, and student success.

 

Drawing on this extensive experience, Dr. Rodriguez-McClellon founded 180° Consulting Group, LLC, a firm dedicated to helping organizations achieve clarity, stability, and growth through comprehensive organizational and operational development services. The firm specializes in guiding institutions through transformation by combining strategic insight with practical implementation.

 

Dr. Rodriguez-McClellon earned both her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Master of Education degrees from Langston University and her Doctor of Education in Adult Learning and Leadership from Kansas State University. Raised in Oklahoma, she currently resides in Little Rock, Arkansas.