Brenda Costa, Ph.D., is an accomplished higher education leader, leadership consultant, and facilitator of growth with more than 30 years of experience developing people and programs.​ She currently serves as Director of Adult and Professional Education (APEX) at Xavier University, where she builds innovative academic pathways, employer partnerships, and student success strategies that align with workforce needs.

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Brenda has designed graduate and undergraduate leadership programs at Wright State University and Wilmington College, where her work emphasized human-centered leadership, organizational change, and applied learning. Additionally, her career spans faculty leadership, curriculum design, corporate partnerships, and consulting engagements across industries, from healthcare to manufacturing to public sector organizations.

 

A certified CliftonStrengths® Coach and Myers-Briggs Type Indicator® Practitioner, Brenda blends research-based practices with practical tools to help individuals and teams thrive.​ She holds a Ph.D. in Workforce Development and Education from The Ohio State University, along with master’s degrees in Instructional Design & Learning Technologies and Applied Behavioral Sciences.

Recognized as one of the Top 25 Women to Watch in the Miami Valley and recipient of multiple teaching and leadership awards, Brenda is deeply committed to creating learning experiences that inspire growth, empower leaders, and strengthen organizations.