200: From Within: Utilizing Institutional Self-Assessment to Foster Collaborative Leadership and Community Preparedness for External Evaluation

This session examines the role of institutional self-assessment as an effective mechanism for fostering shared leadership and equipping communities for significant external evaluation. This presentation conducts a systematic review and meta-analysis of research from the education and nonprofit sectors, identifying evidence-based practices that connect participatory self-assessment to improved organizational learning, equity, and readiness. This session synthesizes two decades of research to demonstrate that internal evaluation processes, grounded in inclusive dialogue and transformative principles, can redistribute power, amplify marginalized voices, and promote a culture of co-ownership in institutional development. Participants will acquire knowledge of effective self-assessment models, examine strategies for stakeholder engagement, and obtain actionable insights on how evaluators and leaders can collaboratively drive internal change. This session, aligned with the 2025 AEA theme "Engaging Community, Sharing Leadership," reinterprets self-assessment beyond a compliance task, framing it as a collaborative and justice-oriented process that enhances institutional strength from within.