Dr. Kalpana “Kal” Srinivas is a higher education leader and educator with nearly three decades of experience at Syracuse University. Before retiring in February 2026, she served as Director for Retention and Student Success, leading university-wide efforts to strengthen student engagement, retention, advising, and student success. Kal’s work has always centered on seeing people clearly and creating environments where they can succeed. She has led initiatives involving student success strategy, advising, assessment, data-informed decision-making, and cross-campus collaboration. As a Posse Mentor, she also had the privilege of supporting a cohort of students throughout their college experience, deepening her commitment to mentorship, belonging, and the power of community.
Kal continues her connection with Syracuse University’s College of Professional Studies, where she teaches in the Organizational Development and Leadership BPS program, including BPS 303: Introduction to Change Management. She is passionate about helping working professionals understand that meaningful change is not simply about new systems or strategies—it is about people, relationships, trust, and working together toward a shared purpose. She has served as a peer evaluator for MSCHE and SACSCOC and continues to contribute to higher education through teaching, mentoring, assessment, accreditation, and professional engagement. Kal holds a Ph.D. and M.S. in Instructional Design, Development and Evaluation from Syracuse University.
Her guiding belief is:
- Great institutions change when people work together.
- Students succeed when they feel seen.
- Leadership is measured not only by results, but by the lives those results make possible.