We are very excited to have Dr. Josie Ahlquist back on the show to discuss her new book, Digital Leadership in Higher Education. We talk about the book and what leadership looks like during global pandemic and ongoing struggles for racial justice. 

No matter what’s going in the world, Josie stresses that higher education leaders need to show up authentically to their interactions with students. With so much misinformation out there, students need to know that they can trust their institution and its leaders before they will believe what they’re reading in an email or seeing in a video.

Josie also reminds us about the importance of taking time to recognize the difficulty of the work we’re doing right now and the fact that we can’t vent to colleagues or celebrate achievements in the normal ways right now. That’s where the digital hug comes in. Josie talks about how she uses them and the power of building mastermind cohorts that are on part strategy session and one part therapy session.

Links to cool stuff:

• Josie’s first appearance on the show – way back in 2017!
• Josie’s website
• Josie on Twitter
• Josie on LinkedIn

On this week’s episode, we talk sit down with John Delony, the Associate Provost and Dean of Students at Belmont University. John talks about how his own mental health challenges proved to be an important turning point in his life. Those events inspired him to take counseling classes at Texas Tech and join a crisis team to help grieving families. All of these experiences have profoundly shaped his approach to working with students. 

Michael Lemus is a program coordinator at The Serna Center at California State University – Sacramento, which focuses on leadership and empowerment of underrepresented students. Prior to his new role, Michael was an academic advisor. Michael wants to remind his student workers that staff members are still learning too. He doesn’t believe in resolutions, he believes in intentions.

Disclaimer: Michael’s social media and opinions on this episode are his own and do not represent his employer. 

Links to cool stuff

• Michael on Twitter
• Michael on IG
• Michael in LinkedIn
• Michaels blog on Facebook 

This week we were excited to talk with Jake McLean, the assistant director of leadership development and service at Monmouth College. We start the show with a discussion of the classic 90’s Disney Movie “Smart House” from episode 138. Jake tells us about his work on the co-curricular side of things working with students through Monmouth’s various leadership programs. We then talk about Jake and Jackie’s upcoming TV show watchlists, debate what baking shows are the best and discuss the evolution of Gordon Ramsey.

Links to cool stuff: 

• Jake on Facebook
• Jake on Twitter
• Jake on LinkedIn
• That picture of Sophie the cockapoo
• Jake’s side hustle “Jake Speaks”