

Beyond effectiveness and efficiency, organizations need
Inspiration + Integrity
Meet Joe
Joe "Books" Levy
Strategist for Learning & Organizational Effectiveness
Before becoming Dr. Joseph D. Levy, his high school friends called him "Books". This nickname came from regularly doing homework and pleasure reading while his friends would play games. More desire than discipline, Joe was a high achiever with an avid appetite for learning.
Joe has extended his passion for learning, development, and outcome-oriented success through a career encouraging a learner-centered approach to achieving goals. Leveraging industry and organizational context, his scholarship and work promotes strategic operations, values-based accountability, and data-informed decision-making toward equitable outcomes. Joe loves to showcase his eclectic interests, experience, and enthusiasm to promote quality, justice, and organizational effectiveness in relatable ways.
What Joe Does
Consulting
Strategy | Guidance | Problem-Solving
Having formal consulting experience in the technology (SaaS) space, higher education, non-profit organizations, and as a coach for the National Institute for Learning Outcomes Assessment (NILOA), Joe is experienced and comfortable consulting for on data-informed continuous improvement and quality assurance efforts as one-time projects or long-term organizational strategies, or somewhere in between.
Training
Workshops | Activities | How-To
Formats: Comfortable engaging large or small groups with in-person or virtual sessions. Open to conducting recorded sessions.
Topics: Assessment and evaluation; reporting and data-informed action; accreditation and compliance; learning and development (strategy, training facilitation, curriculum design); organizational effectiveness; advancing inclusion and equity efforts; and more! Inquire for additional or custom topics.
Speaking
Topical | Motivation | Professional Development
Having professional experience with topics others may find boring, mandated, stressful, or generally consider unrelated to their purpose, Joe has honed his style finding ways to engage an audience through enthusiasm, humor, relatable examples, and purposeful messaging to both empower individuals and encourage action.
What Joe Publishes
Collection of peer-reviewed articles, book chapters, and white paper publications
Levy, J. D. (2025). Drive for results. In R. Lindbeck & V. Nix (Eds.), Workplace leadership (pp. 223-234). Cognella.
Delgado-Riley, R., Levy, J. D., Rehr, T. I. , Holliday-Millard, P., Boren, S., Kruchen-Spaulding, K. A., Henning, G. W., Brooks Nelson, E., Bureau, D. A., & Milligan, S. (2024). Contributions of leading student affairs assessment associations and organizations. Journal of Student Affairs Inquiry, Improvement, and Impact, 7(1), 57–81. https://doi.org/10.18060/28704
Rehr, T. I., Holliday-Millard, P., Gill, T., Jankowski, N. A., Boren, S., Levy, J. D., & Lovette, S.(2024). Assessment in higher education and student affairs graduate education: Professionalization and its implications. Journal of Student Affairs Inquiry, Improvement, and Impact, 7(1), 82–100. https://doi.org/10.18060/28006
Levy, J. D., & Jankowski, N. A. (2024). Adapting assessment to an evolving and changing higher education landscape. In G. W. Henning, E. M. Bentrim, & K.Yousey-Elsener (Eds.), Coordinating divisional and departmental student affairs assessment (2nd ed., pp. 214-230). Routledge.
Levy, J. D. (2023). Examining motivation to advance assessment actions. Assessment Update, 35(3), 8-9. https://doi.org/10.1002/au.30348.
Levy, J. D.,& Carpenter, C. (2022). Equity considerations in credit for prior learning and beyond. The Evolllution.
Heiser, C. A., & Levy, J. D. (2022). Advancing equity in student affairs through assessment practice. In
Henning, Baker, Jankowski, Lundquist, & Montenegro (Eds), Reframing Assessment to center equity: Theories, models, and practices (pp. 213-233).
Levy, J. D., & Patel, M. (2022). Combatting a compliance mindset by advocating for betterment. The Assessment Review, 3(2).
Levy, J. D. (2022). Transcending terminology can elevate student affairs assessment value. Student Affairs Today, 25(2), 1, 4.
Levy, J. D. (2022). A year in the life of an assessment coordinator: Reporting. The Evolllution.
Levy, J. D. (2022). A year in the life of an assessment coordinator: Data collection. The Evolllution.
Levy, J. D. (2022). A year in the life of an assessment coordinator: Assessment planning. The Evolllution.
Song, L. M., Nix, J. V., & Levy, J. D. (2021). Assessing affective learning outcomes through a meaning-
centered curriculum. Proceedings of the Association for Assessment of Learning inHigher Education (AALHE), June 7-11, 2021 Annual Conference, pp. 15-37.
Levy, J. D. (2021). How to leverage assessment and strategic planning for beneficial by-products. The Evolllution.
Levy, J. D. (2020). Self-Determination Theory and faculty behavior: A quantitative study of faculty leaders' use of assessment evidence. Dissertations. 434.
Levy, J. D. (2020). Measuring prior learning success by leveraging data. The Evolllution.
Costello, T.A., & Levy, J. D. (2019). Supporting the adult learner through prior learning assessment. The Evolllution.
Higher Learning Commission (HLC) Innovation Zone. (2018). Continuous improvement of the substantive change process. Higher Learning Commission. [Primary author]
Levy, J. D., Hess, R. M., & Thomas, A. S. (2018). Student affairs assessment & accreditation: History,
expectations, and implications. The Journal of Student Affairs Inquiry, 4(1).
Levy, J. D., & Heiser, C.A. (2018, March). Inclusive assessment practice (Equity Response). Urbana, IL: University of Illinois and Indiana University, National Institute for Learning Outcomes Assessment (NILOA).
Levy, J. D. (2017). Awareness and strategy necessary for technology. AALHE Intersection, Summer, 3-6.
Levy, J. D. (2017). Remembering the basics. The Journal of Student Affairs Inquiry, 3(Letters to the
editor).
Heiser, C. A., Prince, K., Levy, J. D. (2017). Examining critical theory as a framework to advance equity
through student affairs assessment. The Journal of Student Affairs Inquiry, 3(1).
Levy, J. D. (2016). Own it! Assessment is your responsibility. In K. Irland, J. Bhatt, A. Fields, S. De Matteo, & T. Krieglstein (Eds), Tracking is trending: A survival guide to assessment in student affairs (pp. 45-50). Student Affairs Collective.
Levy, J. D. (2013). What if assessment advanced our practice? AFA Essentials, (50).
Levy, J. D. (2013). A catalyst for collaboration. ACUHO-I Talking Stick, 30(6), 20-22, 52.
Levy, J. D. (2013). ABCs of ineffective assessment cultures: Spelling out the wrongs to make right.
Journal of Student Affairs, (22), 35-40.
Levy, J. D., McKelfresh, D. A., & Donovan, J. (2012). A scale for success. ACUHO-I Talking Stick, 29(3), 28-
35, 49.
ACPA Internal Publications. (2012). Professional competency areas for student affairs practitioners: Rubrics for professional development. Washington, D.C.: American College Personnel Association. [Contributing author]
McKelfresh, D. A., & Levy, J. D. (2009). No small measure. ACUHO-I Talking Stick, 27(2), 28-31, 34, 51.
Levy, J. D. (2009). Distance learning: The struggle for satisfaction. Journal of Student Affairs, (18), 27-33.
Levy, J. D. (2008). Ancient Mayan mathematical developments. Baldwin-Wallace College Journal of
Research & Creative Studies, 1(2).
What Joe Blogs
Collection of professional and personal blog posts. Admittedly, Joe shifted attention more to publications versus blogging since 2022, but still great (approachable/engaging) nuggets of wisdom here!
August 7, 2024 · Student Affairs,Results,Transparency,ReportingAssessment of student learning remains one of the most cited areas of concern or need for improvement for higher education institutions across accreditors. Within that space, assessment for student affairs and co-curricular areas is one of the top areas lacking among institutional practices. ...October 3, 2023 · Student Affairs,Results,Transparency,ReportingAssessment of student learning is one of the most cited areas of concern or need for improvement for higher education institutions across accreditors. Within that space, assessment for student affairs and co-curricular areas has been one of the top areas lacking among institutional practices. ...September 21, 2021 · Intentionality,How-To,Student-Centered,ReflectionYou likely have some student learning outcome statements — that is, statements that reflect what skills or knowledge sets you want students to learn as a result of your office or division’s programming. You may have created these statements because someone told you to, because you were...More PostsContact Joe
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