Adam R. Cebulski, Ed.D.
Founder & CEO &
Practice Leader, Organizational Transformation
Dr. Adam R. Cebulski is an innovative and data-driven strategic executive focused on continual improvement to accelerate personal and organizational growth. With over 15 years of experience in change management, strategic planning, people management, and program development, he consistently makes an impact through leadership, relationship-building, and strategy, for organizations ranging from large educational institutions to high-growth technology startups.
About Adam
His background combines education, corporate consulting, and innovation technology. He has focused on strategic planning and assessment and has helped many organizations implement structural and procedural changes to improve operations. His professional expertise includes process improvement, program evaluation, student retention initiatives, marketing, admissions and recruitment, and technology integration. Throughout his work, he has embedded innovative OCM frameworks and centered his coaching around helping people experience and lead change.
Teaching & Research
Dr. Cebulski also teaches graduate courses, including classes related to leadership development, strategic planning and assessment, and gamification in education, among others.
His research projects include using gamification principles and human motivation patterns to increase people engagement and success, the development of intentional experiences, the intersection of identity salience of underrepresented individuals and leadership development, in-group bias against positive attributes, and the impacts and integration of technology on higher education.
What sets Adam apart is the range: equally at home restructuring assessment practices inside a legacy university system and advising the senior leadership team of a fast-growing ed-tech startup, he's worked hands-on with over 200 organizations navigating exactly this kind of change. As a Certified Change Leadership Coach, LVI-certified assessor, and LEGO® Serious Play® certified facilitator, he doesn't just diagnose what isn't working, he builds the plan to fix it and coaches the people who have to carry it out. His approach is grounded in published research and graduate-level teaching on leadership and organizational change, not just field experience. If your organization is bracing for a transition, stuck on a plan that looks great on paper but isn't landing, or simply needs a thought partner who's done this before, that's the conversation worth having.
Education
Ed.D., LeadershipSouthern Methodist University
M.A., Admin. & PolicyNorthwestern University
B.A., PsychologyLoyola University Chicago
MBTI Type: INTJ
I
Introverted
Possess a distinct set of cognitive strengths that allow them to process the world deeply and and draw energy from within.
N
Intuitive
Focuses on patterns, possibilities, and the big picture over granular, moment-to-moment detail.
T
Thinking
Makes decisions based on logic and objective analysis rather than personal or interpersonal factors.
J
Judging
Prefers structure, planning, and clear decisions over staying open-ended or improvising.
Together, this combination is sometimes nicknamed "the Strategist" or "the Architect": independent, big-picture thinkers who build a clear long-term plan before acting on it. INTJs tend to value competence and evidence over convention, work best with autonomy, and are drawn to complex problems where they can design an efficient system rather than follow an existing one.
CliftonStrengths Top Five
Certified Change Leadership Coach
Guides individuals and organizations through transitions, focusing on both human and procedural aspects of change. Assesses readiness, develops strategies, and coaches leaders to foster adaptability.
Leadership Versatility Index Certified
A certified LVI assessor, helping leaders identify and navigate the tensions and trade-offs inherent in their roles, and balance the strengths that, when overextended, can become weaknesses.
LEGO® Serious Play® Certified Facilitator
A hands-on facilitation method that uses building, not just talking, to surface insights and solve problems that are hard to put into words. As a certified facilitator, Dr. Cebulski uses it to unlock creative thinking and deepen engagement in leadership and team work.
Highlighted Publications
Chief of Staff: A Pivotal Leadership Role (2025)
Article in NASPA Leadership Exchange
Link to Article
Structures to Organize Assessment (2023)
Book Chapter in Coordinating Divisional and Departmental Student Affairs Assessment
Link to Chapter
Leadership learning through games in co-curricular settings (2022)
Chapter in New Directions for Student Leadership
Link to Journal
Utilizing gamification to foster leadership competency development (2017)
Chapter in A Competency-Based Approach for Student Leadership Development, New Directions for Student Leadership, No. 156
Link to JournalExperience in Multiple Industries
With a diverse background spanning multiple industries, Dr. Cebulski's career started in higher education, where he honed his skills in strategic planning and program management. He then made a bold move to the senior leadership team of an ed-tech startup, contributing to the company's growth. He has seamlessly navigated between education and industry, and his entrepreneurial spirit led him to launch transform.forward, bringing innovative ideas to life and continuously pushing boundaries in education, technology, and innovation.
Worked with over
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organizations
Featured Podcast
Dr. Cebulski was an invited guest on the NASPA SA Voices from the Field podcast, sitting down to discuss On Leaving and Returning to Student Affairs, sharing a story that may be completely new to you, or one that mirrors and affirms your own experience.
Listen to the EpisodeOn Leaving and Returning to Student Affairs with Dr. Adam Cebulski
Let's Talk About Where You're Headed
Whether you're navigating change, planning your next strategic move, or building a stronger team, Adam brings 15+ years of experience to help you get there.
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