Denise Williams Mallett, Ed.D.
Senior Partner, Ideas for Action, LLC
Dr. Denise Williams Mallett is a Senior Partner at Ideas for Action, where she works with colleges, universities, and nonprofit organizations to advance institutional effectiveness, strategic alignment, and organizational transformation. Bringing over 20 years of senior leadership experience in higher education, Denise advises leaders and executive teams on governance, enrollment strategy, student success systems, and change leadership.
Prior to her consulting work, Denise served in a variety of senior executive roles, including Provost-level and vice-presidential leadership, where she led large multidisciplinary portfolios in enrollment management, student affairs, academic operations, and institutional strategy. Her experience spans public, private, two-year, and four-year institutions, equipping her to partner effectively with presidents, boards, and senior teams navigating complex challenges and transitions.
In her consulting practice, Denise blends strategic insight with data-informed analysis and stakeholder engagement to help clients define priorities, strengthen decision-making structures, and implement plans that deliver measurable outcomes. Her work is informed by active governance experience, including chairing the board of trustees of a large Midwestern public university, which brings a real-time perspective to her advisory work.