"It's at this moment when you're called to lead. It's hard and exhausting, but it's also an energizing moment," the Hollins University president says. "We can change the trajectory of our students' lives, our institutions' lives and this nation's future."
Three college administrators—including one president—will be coordinating goodbye parties at their current institutions as they prepare to move on to bigger opportunities elsewhere.
The U.S. Department of Education recently found that the CUNY college had the fourth-highest transfer-out rate for Title IV students in the nation; 55% ultimately earned bachelor's degrees within eight years, compared to the country's 13% average.
At least six four-year institutions have hired a president in the past two weeks. Among them, two are walking into rough waters as each institution endures a year of upheaval and controversy.
"A strategic plan is somewhat useless today," Florida Institute of Technology President John Nicklow says. "Our industry partners are changing rapidly, so our plan better as well."
Amid Jackson's continuing water crisis and its premier university's revolving door of former leaders, first-time President Marcus Thompson wants everyone to know he's here for the long haul.
The majority of the college leaders transitioning in or out of the president position in the past two weeks have demonstrated excellence in one of higher education's top executive positions.
In the business of running a liberal arts school like Furman University, the most cherished metric to study success is student satisfaction. For President Elizabeth Davis, the key is a strategic plan agile enough to adjust to student interest and leveraging a dedicated team ready to adapt to new needs.
A higher ed leader heavyweight steps into her mother's alma mater. While a 20-year presidential tenure is one to celebrate, one decade-old stint is souring following academic cuts.
