As the leaves begin to turn everywhere but home here in Florida, I'm packing my bags for an exciting season of Higher Ed Consulting! Over the next few months, I'll be crisscrossing the country, immersing myself in diverse campus cultures and collaborating with inspiring educators and students.I promise to update you on my travels and adventures over the next few months. So where am I headed? I start my travels in the Northeast, will make my way to the deep South, Music City (three times), and the Southwest, and back to the Northeast a few more times! But my journey doesn't stop there. In our increasingly connected world, I'll also be engaging virtually with another dozen or so campuses, bridging geographical gaps with technology.
Why do I love visiting campuses?
As I step onto yet another university campus, the familiar rush of energy courses through me. Each institution has its own unique pulse, a rhythm that can only be felt by being physically present. My work as a Consultant takes me across the country, from sprawling state universities, lively community colleges, and intimate liberal arts colleges. The changing landscape outside airplane windows gives way to diverse campus architectures and local communities, each telling its own story.
But it's the people who truly bring these spaces to life. I find myself in deep conversation with a Student Affairs professionals, Presidents and their Cabinets, faculty, and staff. It is my conversations with students that often impact me the most, their raw enthusiasm for learning reminding me why this work matters. These face-to-face interactions, impossible to replicate through screens, form the bedrock of meaningful consultation.
The challenges facing higher education are complex and very real. Being on-site allows me to absorb the nuances of each institution's culture, to read between the lines of formal meetings and catch those crucial off-the-cuff remarks and informal conversations. I can feel the tension in a room when discussing budget constraints, or sense the collective pride when showcasing a groundbreaking research project.
Yes, the constant travel can be draining. Airports become a blur of boarding passes and delayed flights. But then I arrive at a new campus, breathe in the crisp air of academic possibility, and remember: this is where the future is being shaped. My role is to listen, to observe, and to offer guidance that honors each institution's unique identity while pushing it toward its highest potential.
In this digital age, there's still no substitute for being present, for walking the quads and feeling the heartbeat of a campus. It's in these moments that I'm reminded of the profound impact of higher education - not just on individual lives, but on the very fabric of our society.
First stop? Montclair State University!
I'll be sharing insights, observations, and the occasional misadventure as I navigate airports, campuses, and everything in between this fall. I'm headed your way Montclair, NJ! I hope that you will join me, as I take off from Orlando to adventures around this beautiful country and beyond!
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