Carl Crosby Lehmann

Carl Crosby Lehmann brings more than 30 years of higher education experience to his work with colleges and universities. As a Senior Director with Ballast, he helps institutional leaders navigate complex decisions involving compliance, policy, investigations, institutional governance, employment matters, and other challenges that require both experienced judgment and a deep understanding of higher education. 

Carl's perspective is shaped by decades spent working alongside colleges and universities—and by his experience serving within institutional leadership himself. 

For more than 20 years, Carl advised higher education institutions on matters ranging from Title IX and sexual misconduct to student affairs, faculty issues, employment matters, disability accommodations, institutional policies, and regulatory compliance. His work also included higher education training, compliance reviews, and investigations involving interpersonal violence and other forms of misconduct. 

In 2016, Carl joined St. Olaf College as General Counsel, giving him an additional perspective on the realities campus leaders face from inside an institution. His leadership experience has required him to consider not only regulatory requirements and institutional policy, but also mission, governance, campus culture, resources, relationships, and the practical implications of institutional decisions. 

That combination of perspectives shapes Carl's work at Ballast. 

Carl understands that colleges and universities rarely need advice in a vacuum. They need experienced partners who understand how one decision can affect people, departments, policies, institutional priorities, and the broader campus community. He works collaboratively with leaders to understand those connections, evaluate options, and develop approaches that are both thoughtful and workable. 

Carl also brings extensive experience in professional development. Earlier in his career, he co-founded a national provider of training, compliance review, and investigation services for colleges and universities. His work has included helping institutions strengthen Title IX policies and procedures, educate campus professionals, and improve their approaches to difficult institutional matters. 

At Ballast, Carl serves as an experienced sounding board for campus leaders facing both immediate challenges and broader institutional questions. Whether an engagement involves policy and compliance, an investigation, professional development, or ongoing advice, he begins by understanding the institution itself. 

His goal is not simply to identify what an institution can do, but to help leaders determine what makes sense for their particular community and move forward with a well-informed plan.