Podcast: Leaders on Leadership with Jay Lemons
Today’s higher education leaders share their stories and insights about leadership in the academy. Join host Jay Lemons and his guests for thoughtful conversations and interesting perspectives on leadership.
In his latest episode, Jay is joined by Dr. Heidi Anderson, President of University of Maryland Eastern Shore, who talks about the mentors who influenced and encouraged her on her path to leadership. Dr. Anderson discusses the myriad benefits of public higher education and the challenges facing institutions as they work to address changes to the business model and the learning model in a post-pandemic world.
Leaders on Leadership is brought to you by Academic Search and the American Academic Leadership Institute, who together support colleges and universities during times of transition and through leadership development activities that serve current and future generations of institutional leaders.
On Leadership
Strengthening the Foundation: Creating an Inclusive Environment for New Leaders
As an expression of Academic Search’s commitment, and as a complement to the work we do in executive search, we are honored to be engaged currently with the City University of New York System as it facilitates the transition of seven new campus presidents. Chancellor Félix V. Matos Rodríguez recognizes the critical work to be done following the appointment of new leadership, and this is all the more significant during the pandemic. A successful search does not end at the identification, selection, and announcement of the appointee; developing and implementing a well-structured transition and onboarding plan is imperative to ensuring a smooth, successful change of leadership. It is particularly important to keep the challenges of leadership in mind when transitioning and onboarding candidates from traditionally underserved populations, particularly those who are serving as pioneers in the institutions they now lead. Jay Lemons and Shirley Robinson Pippins bring their insights for keeping diversity, equity, and inclusion at the forefront of any transition and onboarding plan.
2020 Vision: Sharpening the Lens for Hiring Leaders
In these turbulent and uncertain times, senior leaders are expected to be more adaptable than perhaps ever before and to have or develop new essential skills to address rapidly changing conditions during this pandemic and beyond. Leaders also need to have an even deeper awareness of systemic injustice, inequality, and privilege. As hiring authorities and search committees select new leaders through national searches or internal appointments, they must sharpen the lens through which they now evaluate candidates. Ginny Horvath, Senior Consultant, and Maya Kirkhope, Vice President for Consulting Services and Senior Consultant, identify how the following ten top leadership qualities and skills have been redefined for current and anticipated changes in higher education:
Financial Acuity • Cultural Competency • Technological Deftness • Crisis Management • Entrepreneurial Mindset • Political Savviness • Empathy and Respect • Multi-genre Communication Skills • High Emotional Intelligence • Agility
Viewpoints
Academic Search Partners with CUMU
What will the state of higher education be in 2030? For its 2020 Annual Conference, the Coalition of Urban and Metropolitan Universities (CUMU) invited transformational leaders to imagine higher education ten years from now and share perspectives on how to push the conversation forward. Academic Search was honored to sponsor this virtual event and our president, Jay Lemons, served as moderator for the keynote address. He was joined by an exceptional trio of leaders: Terri Givens, CEO and founder of The Center for Higher Education Leadership, now known as Brighter Higher Ed; Michael Fitts, president of Tulane University; and Michael Hinojosa, superintendent of Dallas Independent School District. We invite you to watch their session.
Recruiting College Presidents During the Pandemic
Our president, Jay Lemons, was recently interviewed by Hunt Scanlon on “Recruiting College Presidents During the Pandemic” and discussed what institutions and the executive recruiting sector are encountering and likely to confront moving forward.
Viewpoints
Becoming Visible: Getting on Recruiter Radars
Our chief operating officer, Shawn Hartman, was recently a panelist on “Becoming Visible: Getting on Recruiter Radars”, hosted by BlueSteps, and discussed effective networking and personal branding advice that will help get you noticed.
Jay Lemons Joined Hunt Scanlon Media Host Rob Adams for 2 Episodes of “Talent Talks”
In “Recruiting Presidents for Academia,” Jay Lemons and Rich Ekman, president of the Council of Independent Colleges, discussed the skills and traits now required of successful university presidents and what skill sets have changed over the last decade.
In “Future of the College Presidency,” Jay Lemons was joined by Scott Miller, president of Virginia Wesleyan University, and explored how Academic Search is keeping up with the transforming role of the college presidency.
