Educational developers, faculty support professionals, and others working in collaboration with teaching and learning centers serve many roles in higher education institutes. We serve as agents for change, consultants on expertise for student learning and engagement, analysts for understanding how to improve institutional outcomes, and data specialists who can visualize impact and demonstrate evidence of success over time. During our session we explore how educational and faculty development perspectives shape current approaches to modern challenges, anticipating potential upcoming barriers and the need for institutions to demonstrate a clear vision and alignment with strategic plans and desired outcomes. Examples from the UC and CSU systems provide opportunities to explore how educational and faculty developers are supporting campuses as they navigate emergent issues such as enrollment fluctuations, shifting demographics (e.g., race/ethnicity, first-generation status), financial constraints, and rapidly evolving AI technologies while affirming the value of a college degree and aligning our work with strategic plans of our campuses and governing constituencies.