Brenda Beckman, M.A.

Senior Consultant for Leadership Programs 

Ms. Beckman has served as an Achieving the Dream Coach since 2006, consulting a variety of community and technical colleges in Michigan and the State of Washington.

Prior to her role with Achieving the Dream, Ms. Beckman served as a higher education consultant with 36 years experience in community and technical colleges.  She taught political science and later served in various senior administrative positions, including presidencies at Pima Community College (AZ) and Aims Community College (CO). 

Ms. Beckman is a longtime consultant to trustees and served a decade as Retreat Facilitator and Search Consultant for the Association of Community College Trustees. Ms. Beckman was Associate Director/Vice President of the League for Innovation in the Community College for 10 years, directing leadership and workforce development programs including the internationally recognized Executive Leadership Institute. She also directed the Expanding Leadership Diversity in Community Colleges initiative throughout its nine years. She continues to serve the League as Senior Consultant for Leadership Programs. Student and leadership development has been a career-long focus for Ms. Beckman. 

A former consultant/evaluator with the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools (NCA), Beckman was appointed by the NCA Commission on Institutions of Higher Learning, as a Public Member of the Accreditation Review Council.  She earlier served on the American Association of Community Colleges Commission on Workforce and Community Development, the California Community College Chancellor’s Statewide Business Education Project, and the Arizona Board of Regents Minority Education Cooperative.

Educational Background: Ms. Beckman holds an MA from Central Michigan University; a BA from Oakland University; and an AA from Macomb Community College. She further did doctoral studies in Political Science at Michigan State University and held a Fellowship in Higher Education Administration at The University of Michigan.