Leaders in the Making
Meet some of the students in Walden’s Community College Leadership program.
May 2008
Name: John E. Cech
Program/graduation date: Community College Leadership program, fall 2010
Current position: Dean, Montana State University, Billings, College of Technology
Favorite tips on balancing work, life and school: Establish and manage priorities. Time management is paramount. I depend on Microsoft Outlook to basically schedule every minute of my day, including family time.
What big change do you plan to make drawing on your education? Our institution is in the process of commencing long-range plans to become a comprehensive community college branch of the university. It is an incredible opportunity for developing a new college and its structure as part of a senior university.
Name: Susan Holmes
Program/graduation date: Community College Leadership program, August 2007
Current position: Executive assistant to the president and board of trustees, NorthWest Arkansas Community College in Bentonville, Ark.; president-elect of the Arkansas Association of Two-Year Colleges
Favorite tips on balancing work, life and school: Look for the most meaningful learning experience to enhance your career and get the support of senior management in your organization.
What big change do you plan to make drawing on your education? Use my personal and professional skills to create sustainable programs that will continuously evolve and improve to meet the needs of community college students.
Name: Toni DuBois
Program/graduation date: Community College Leadership program, summer 2008
Current position: Dean of student financial aid programs, Long Beach Community College, Calif.
Favorite tip on balancing work, life and school: Stay in character. If what you are doing at Walden matches what you do at work, it is not that difficult to move back and forth. Your student and job roles must be partners.
What big change do you plan to make drawing on your education? Look at how $43 million in funding to California community colleges has been used to improve access and retention and share best practices with the field.
Name: Susan Lindahl
Program/graduation date: Community College Leadership program, summer 2008
Current position: Chief strategy officer, McAnany, Van Cleave & Phillips, one of the leading education law firms in the Midwest
Most recent position: Vice president, college relations and strategic initiatives, Johnson County Community College, Overland Park, Kan.
Favorite tip on balancing work, life and school: Find the energy and the link between what you are doing professionally and what you are studying. You need tremendous support from your employer and your family.
What big change do you plan to make drawing on your education? The firm has a fairly large education practice. With my education background, I can listen with a different ear to the needs of clients and serve as a liaison to legal counsel on education issues.
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