Leading in higher education—especially as someone from an underrepresented group—can feel increasingly challenging amid political division, declining confidence in the value of higher education, and the pressures of social media. While these stressors may feel heightened today, they are not new.
This program creates space to reflect on these shared experiences and equips you with practical strategies to respond. Through building supportive communities, fostering self-awareness, and developing approaches for informed advocacy and collective action, you will gain tools to manage fatigue, sustain your leadership, and not only navigate these challenges, but thrive.
Presenters Bio:
R. Barbara Gitenstein, president emerita of The College of New Jersey, is a higher education leader with over 40 years of experience. She previously served as provost at Drake University and was the first woman to lead both institutions in those roles.
As president, she strengthened academic programs, improved graduation rates, and led significant campus growth and fundraising. Since retiring in 2018, she has consulted with the Association of Governing Boards and written on leadership and governance.