Kicking off a weekend of celebration, connection, and community for President Will Dudley’s inauguration as CMC’s sixth president, three prominent alumnae engaged in a thoughtful discussion on “Leadership in Higher Education” inside the Robert Day Sciences Center.
President Dudley moderated the Friday (Nov. 6) afternoon conversation, eliciting the insight and expertise of Maria Anguiano ’01, Board of Regents Chair for the University of California; Tamara Lawson ’92, Dean and Professor at the University of Washington School of Law; and Harriet Nembhard ’91, President of Harvey Mudd College.
Drawing from their professional experiences and shared journeys, first as CMC students and now as top administrators in academia, Anguiano, Lawson, and Nembhard explored how leaders meet challenges and seize opportunities in the changing landscape of education. Lawson reflected on how an institution’s success in navigating uncertainty is ultimately guided by nurturing the relationships situated at the heart of its mission.
“At the core, it’s about the student experience, academic excellence, and community engagement, and that includes this community right here: our alumni, our donor community, our supportive community,” Lawson said.
Responding to the increasing complexity of higher education requires both a willingness and an ability to pivot, the alumnae agreed. Along with moment-by-moment agility, a system-wide flexibility is called for in this “consequential period,” said Anguiano, especially pertaining to matters of accessibility and student representation: “We will have to create new models of education in the next few years if we want to serve the entire population.”
While adaptability is also crucial to keeping higher education relevant and sustainable, the panelists again emphasized the importance of an unwavering commitment to mission.
“From my perspective,” Nembhard said, “the way to lead effectively starts with being crystal clear on mission and making sure that everyone is aligned around why we’re here.”
Friday’s panel was also part of CMC’s 50 Years of Co-Education Anniversary and our continuing coverage of women leaders throughout the celebration year. Look for full video from the panel discussion soon.