Building New Leadership Models that Strengthen Our Links to a Healthy, Diverse, and Inclusive Higher Education Community

The second panel was a forum of three women of color presidents--Mildred Garcia (second photo), President of Berkeley College of New York and New Jersey, S. Verna Fowler (fourth photo), Founding President of the College of Menominee Nation, and Ding-Jo Currie (third photo), President of Coastline Community College. The three gave opening comments about their career paths to the presidency and how, as leaders, they present a new model of leadership for higher education. The panel was moderated by Dr. Yolanda Moses.

Some of the bits of advice they give to women of color participants in advancing their own careers in higher education:
• Be yourself and true to your core beliefs and values.
• Be thoughtful.
• Embrace lifelong learning.
• Choose an enthusiastic and optimistic framing perspective.
• Reflect before acting.
• Think big.
• Lead with the heart at heart--touch the core of those you lead.
• A love-based style of leadership empowers others.
• Remember it's not about politics, it's about relationships.
• Lead with the soul in tack; know your purpose in life; know what you stand for; allow your values to be your branding.
• Allow your faith to be the center of your gravity.
• The magic of unity should be an element of the architectural design of the educational environment that we help to shape.
• Do not buy into the elitism of higher education.
• Be respectful of others.
• Pray and meditate to maintain your sanity.
• Have confidants you can trust.
• Keep your eye on the prize—why you are doing what you’re doing!

The comments from these three women were moving to tears. Millie Garcia shared her story of accepting her presidency at Berkeley College, which is not a research university like Arizona State University where she was in her previous position. But when she reflected on her true values of wanting to serve underrepresented students in NYC who come from low socio-economic backgrounds, she realized that she was being called to the presidency of Berkeley College.

Ding-Jo Currie focused on the spiritual side of her that keeps her grounded as a leaders. She also discussed the impact of her mentor, Carolyn Desjardin, and how she strives to return that kind of support and mentorship to other women and particularly women of color. Like women who shop for clothes, Currie shops for potential leaders by identifying them and helping to place them in leadership positions of influence and power.
Vera discussed her transparent style of leadership so that her constituents always feel free to ask questions and add their input. She totally underestimated the desire for higher education among the Menominee people when she started the college, but now she feels good that she has helped to prepare at least ten people who stand ready and able to succeed her.

One of the issues raised during the panel was about the need for caucasian women to support the advancement of women of color and for women of color to support one another. These conversations need to be had on the campuses. Women of color in presidencies have to be leaders for all and in some ways need to be neutral to the outside world while simultaneously acknowledging to women of color on their campuses that their needs and opportunities for career advancement will not go unnoticed.