Leadership pipelines in higher education are strained as institutions report a shortage of visionary candidates willing to take on top administrative roles amid growing job demands. Colleges are exploring strategies to strengthen alumni career mentoring to augment student success. Efforts to maintain diverse student bodies continue despite legal challenges, with state attorneys general advocating for socioeconomic and geographic factors in admissions. Concurrently, academic advising roles expand to emphasize integrity and developmental support, positioning advisors as key players in fostering student ethical standards.