Strategic Partners for
Higher Education Leaders

We help college and university leaders close the gap between intent, systems, and the lived reality of today’s learner, so strategy holds when the pressure hits.

What We Do

We provide focused, context-specific support that helps leaders move forward and sustain progress over time.

  • Strategy and organizational consulting

  • Executive and leadership coaching

  • Keynotes and facilitated engagements

Our Approach

We translate values into operating reality—aligning strategy, decisions, and leadership so that when pressure is on, strategy guides decisions instead of falling by the wayside.

Our approach blends systems thinking, human-centered leadership, and practical strategy, grounded in real institutional contexts.

Our Team

Edgefield Group is led by experienced leaders in higher education, organizational design, student success, and executive coaching.

Their work is shaped by decades of hands-on leadership and deep research across complex institutions.

Strategy in Motion

Design Commitment 4: Designing for Scale, Not Heroics

Student success at scale requires moving beyond individual effort to build aligned systems, shared practices, and durable processes that consistently support all students over time.

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Commitments in Action: The Work Is Real. So Are the Results.

Student success depends on institutional infrastructure — aligning systems, strategy, and learner reality to create outcomes that are sustained, measurable, and built to last across institutions.

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Design Commitments in Practice: The Charlotte Model and Student Success

UNC Charlotte’s student success model shows how coordinated, system-level design improves outcomes by aligning academic progress, support, and financial stability for students across the full experience.

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Let’s Talk!

Working with Edgefield begins with a conversation. If you’re navigating complexity or facing decisions without clear answers, we’re ready to listen.

  • "Dr. Payne-Kirchmeier's keynote set the tone for the entire conference and reminded us why thoughtful, student-centered leadership matters more than ever."

    —Michael Allensworth and Dr. Deanna Wagner, 2025 NASPA Region IV-E Co-Chairs

  • "Julie's approach is thoughtful, disciplined, and rooted in care for both leaders and the students they serve. You will be in excellent hands with Edgefield Group."

    —Dr. Carolyn Golz, Vice President for Student Affairs and Student Success, University of Indianapolis

  • "Dr. Payne-Kirchmeier helped HEFWA strenghten its role as a convener of institutions committed to student financial wellness. We are better positioned due to her guidance and expertise."

    - Phil Schuman, Executive Director, Higher Education Financial Wellness Alliance (HEFWA)