what i learned from where i learned

As a scholar of institutions and how those institutions shape policy outputs and outcomes, I have always been interested in how the culture and structure of a place can shape and inform the worldview, professional norms, and actions of individuals who populate an institution. When I took my first position in academic administration, this interest became part of my daily reality, and caused me to reflect on how I was shaped -- in my teaching, research and scholarly activity, and approaches to service and administration -- by the places where I studied and grew as a teacher and scholar. 

the university of georgia (2002 - 2006, PH.d. IN POLITICAL SCIENCE)

Excellence in graduate programs and research does not have to come at the expense of great undergraduate teaching.

Student success starts with faculty success; building a supportive teaching and learning environment requires that we provide faculty and graduate students with professional development resources and opportunities. 

Research and scholarly activity are driven by innovation and creativity, and require us to give scholars the freedom they need to try new approaches to inquiry. 

Georgetown University (2000 - 2002, m.p.p. IN SOCIAL AND FAMILY POLICY)

Amazing things can happen when a university lives its mission. 

Colleges and universities can -- and should -- create public value. 

Diversity on campus is not a luxury -- it is a necessity. Without shared narratives across the wealth of human experiences, we lose a central tenet of a liberal arts education. 

Birmingham-southern college (1995 - 1999, b.a. IN POLITICAL SCIENCE)

Colleges and universities can change lives. 

No job is too small for a college administrator, and everyone contributes to building a strong community.

There is no better education than a liberal arts education. But that belief alone will not prevent attacks on the value of liberal arts. We must learn how to craft compelling narratives about why what we do is so important.