Leading Insights

Podcast: Leaders on Leadership with Jay Lemons

Today’s higher education leaders share their stories and insights about leadership in the academy. Join host Dr. L. Jay Lemons and his guests for thoughtful conversations and interesting perspectives on leadership.

In our latest episode, Dr. Suzanne Smith, President of SUNY Potsdam, reflects on a leadership journey shaped by influential mentors and more than two decades at Washington State University Vancouver, where she arrived as the campus was being built from the ground up and rose from faculty member to academic director. A chance meeting with a textbook author at an undergraduate research conference led to a research lab invitation and, eventually, a call to fill in for her own departing professor at Erskine College—the moment she discovered a love of teaching she’d never expected. In this episode, Dr. Smith discusses how she uses CliftonStrengths and Winnie the Pooh personality types to build teams that complement rather than mirror each other, how she coaches “Eeyores,” and why authenticity and emotional leadership matter more to her than projecting confidence.

Leaders on Leadership with Jay Lemons brought to you by Academic Search and the American Academic Leadership Institute

Leaders on Leadership is brought to you by Academic Search and the American Academic Leadership Institute, who together support colleges and universities during times of transition and through leadership development activities that serve current and future generations of institutional leaders.

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Dr. Suzanne Smith

President, SUNY Potsdam

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Guides, perspectives, and news from Academic Search search consultants and executive coaches, drawn from 50 years of work alongside college and university leaders.

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Higher Education’s Leadership Pipeline is Stronger Than the Headlines Suggest

The headlines suggest fewer people want to lead colleges and universities. Our experience tells a different story. After conducting more than 100 presidential searches in the past five years, we continue to see strong, talented, and deeply committed leaders stepping forward to serve higher education. Academic Search President Jay Lemons reflects on what we are seeing across the leadership landscape: strong candidate pools, growing investment in leadership development, increased support through executive coaching, and encouraging signs that higher education leadership is becoming more representative of the communities institutions serve.

Leadership Renewal Starts with Intention

Leaders across higher education are being asked to do more with less, often while setting aside their own professional and personal growth. When we neglect well-being and renewal, we risk burnout, disconnection, and mission drift. This resource offers a range of practical ways to support leadership renewal for yourself, your team, and emerging leaders at your institution.

A Guide to Effective & Strategic Cabinet Retreats

Effective leadership teams leverage annual cabinet retreats to enhance capacity building and ongoing learning. These retreats are an opportunity for a president to invest in their team, clarify expectations, deepen relationships and collaboration, align and commit to institutional priorities, and build a plan and momentum for the year ahead. Presidents who approach cabinet retreats intentionally and strategically can expect heightened team dynamics that lead to a more sustained and focused impact.

Competencies for the College Presidency

The college presidency has always been demanding, and the post-pandemic era presents intensified challenges such as political polarization, campus unrest, demographic shifts, and financial constraints. Effective presidential competencies evolve with these contexts, requiring a constellation of adaptable skills, highlighted in this research.

Building Resilient Leadership: Lessons from Deloitte’s Higher Education Trends

In a rapidly changing educational landscape, the role of presidential leadership has never been more critical. Rodney Clark, Senior Consultant, shares his perspective on the latest observations from Deloitte on higher education trends.

Academic Search Welcomes Mike Maxey and Timothy Mottet as Senior Consultants

We are thrilled to announce the expansion of our team with two experienced higher education professionals, Mr. Michael C. Maxey and Dr. Timothy Mottet, joining as Senior Consultants. Their extensive experience and profound insights promise to bolster our capability to support academic institutions in achieving strategic success.

Strengthening Our Executive Coaching Practice with New Director

We are pleased to welcome Meg Richtman as the new Director of our Executive Coaching Practice. Ms. Richtman’s extensive experience and visionary leadership will help expand our capabilities and impact. In this new role, she will lead our coaching practice operations and enhance the resources to support our Senior Executive Coaches, ultimately building on the momentum and impact of the Executive Coaching Practice and advancing our unique commitment to leader effectiveness and well-being.

Leaving the Presidency with Grace

Transitioning out of a presidential role in higher education is an art form, balancing personal reflection with institutional foresight. Drawing from their own experiences as former presidents, Senior Consultants Tara Singer, of Omicron Delta Kappa, and Margaret Venable, of Dalton State College, offer a blueprint for outgoing leaders aiming to sculpt a legacy while leaving their institutions well-prepared for future challenges and opportunities. Their invaluable insights center on applying the principles of self-management, successor support, and staff engagement.