Board of Directors Openings

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Self Nominations Accepted for Open Board Seats

The Board of Directors seeks new members for the Board and for Board committees. To be considered for either opportunity, candidates must be nominated by the Governance and Nominating Committee, Erika Endrijonas, Past-President, chair. 

The Board of Directors has up to four openings: up to one (1) opening for a current or former president, chancellor, or campus CEO; and up to three (3) openings for candidates to be elected from the membership. The board meets at least four times a year, at least one time in person, usually associated with the Leadership Institute. The Governance and Nominating Committee will propose a slate for ratification by the Members at the Annual Meeting in New Haven on October 19, 2023. 

Candidates for Board committees are approved by a vote of the Board at any scheduled Board meeting. Standing committees of the Board, for which nominations are accepted, include Finance, Program and Membership, and Governance and Nominating. 

Interested members should send a letter of interest and cv, by September 11, 2023, to Jim Berg.

Mentoring for Mutual Benefit

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In my twenty-five year career as an administrator in higher education, I have been both the organizer and the beneficiary of mentoring. I have been, and continue to be, a mentor to others. 

During my graduate school career, there were a couple of professors who were more to me than teachers in the classroom. They were models of how to be a faculty member, how to be a teacher, and how to be queer in the academy.

Toni McNaron was one of the first out lesbian professors at the University of Minnesota. A Milton scholar, she was also one of the founders of the Women’s Studies department at Minnesota. In 1997, she published Poisoned Ivy: Lesbian and Gay Academics Confronting Homophobia. Toni would probably not think of herself as a mentor to me, but what else is it when the chair of your dissertation committee sits across the table from you, nodding and smiling as you haltingly answer questions from scholars more interested in tearing you down than building you up? I will never forget her calm supportive presence or the key advice she gave me when I was trying to decide on a job offer, “Go where you are wanted.”

The faculty member, Lisa Albrecht, would definitely recognize me as a protegee. She hired me for my first teaching position, actively mentored me during my first year of teaching, and invited me to work with her outside of class on a gay and lesbian literary journal. She was the model of a collaborative, engaged academic, winning one of the University of Minnesota’s first awards for community service. Years after grad school, Lisa and I had lunch and talked about her goals for the remainder of her career. Mentoring benefits both parties. 

Once I became an administrator in higher education, I heard mentoring talked about in more consistent but somewhat unorganized ways. In my second position as a dean, I was not the only one, there was already another gay dean. (I referred to him, of course, as The Other Gay Dean.) My vice president always matched her new hires with a more established administrator and she suggested TOGD for me. I assumed it was because we were both gay, but I didn’t want to be pigeon-holed, to be expected to take up Gay Issues on campus. (The way Toni and Lisa had had to.) So I asked for a different mentor, one who knew some of my particular job duties. I wasn’t disappointed in his mentorship at all, and I ended up seeing both him and TOGD as friends as well as colleagues.

In my most recent college leadership position, I was a dean of faculty. Mentoring was a constant discussion because we were always talking about setting up a collegewide program for new faculty. Some of the departments had long-standing mentoring programs for their new faculty, but a collegewide program was often mentioned as a way for newcomers to find their way into a large institution. It was there that I learned about alternatives to the old idea of mentoring. You know, the young protegee sitting at the feet of the (usually male) older sage. Understanding the complexity of teaching or leading in colleges or universities, it is clear that one mentor could not serve all the needs of new colleagues. Formal mentoring programs have many different models now–networked mentoring, peer mentoring, group mentoring, etc. New hires are employees, scholars, leaders, teachers, administrators, and humans. They need access to mentors within and without their departments and disciplines, even outside their home institutions. 

I have had significant mentoring experiences outside the walls of my institution. In fact, they have been in this organization. Some were short-term, what you might call just-in-time relationships at the Leadership Institute. But one was more lasting. I first met former Executive Director Terry Allison when he was a dean at Cal State LA. He encouraged me to attend my first Leadership Institute in 2015. I was looking for a new job at the time and elected to have a mentor look at my application materials. Later, still looking for a new job, I heard the same advice: expand your search. You’ll do well if you don’t restrict yourself only to California. But I don’t want to live anywhere else, I said. Terry rolled his eyes. He is a California boy himself, but found career fulfillment (and a husband) in other states. Eventually, I did apply for jobs elsewhere, deciding to try New York where my long-distance partner lived. Reader, I got the second job I applied for. (And, yes, I married him.)

Terry is also one of the authors of the chapter on mentoring in LGBTQ Leadership in Higher Education, a book edited by Raymond Crossman and published in 2022 by the Johns Hopkins University Press. In his contribution on queering mentorship, Terry points out that “the mentor-mentee relationship is one of mutual benefit.” 

Cover image of the book LGBTQ Leadership in Higher Education

When that job ended, I reached out to Terry, who was planning the 2022 Leadership Institute in Pasadena. I asked if he would cover my lodging if I helped out. He agreed. Shortly thereafter, Terry had to step away from the organization, and I was asked to serve as interim executive director. When Terry decided to retire (for the third time), I was asked to take over on a continuing basis. 

So there are a few highlights of my experience with mentoring. 

If you are planning to attend the 2023 Leadership Institute in New Haven, you will have the opportunity to request a mentoring session on the registration form. We are also working to develop a mentoring program in 2024 that will be year round and not tied to attendance at the Institute. Stay tuned for more information. 

LGBTQ Leaders Responds to Supreme Court Decisions on Affirmative Action and Student Debt Relief

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The recent decision by the Supreme Court of the United States rejecting affirmative action decides that equal access to higher education on the basis of race is unconstitutional and tragically drives us further from the ideals upon which our country was founded. With decades of data that show the disparities in our K through 12 education system, it is clear that not everyone has equal nor equitable access to quality education. Affirmative Action was one lever that sought to remedy these long-held systemic shortcomings and help guide us toward a more perfect Union.   

Equally as troubling is the decision on student loan debt relief. Income inequality remains a systemic problem in the United States and nationwide the disinvestment in higher education  has required students, especially those of color and LGBTQ students, to bear a greater proportion of that cost through student loans. This decision, like that on affirmative action, creates another barrier to equal access to higher education for marginalized populations, which includes LGBTQ people. 

As an organization, LGBTQ Leaders in Higher Education advocates regarding LGBTQ issues within the global academy and for the public at large and to put more LGBTQ leaders into the ranks of higher education. We remain committed to working to address these inequities for all marginalized populations, including our LGBTQ students and members of our community. 

–Board of Directors

New Partnership Adds Member Benefit

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LGBTQ Leaders in Higher Education has recently approved a partnership with The Virtual Care Group to offer consortium pricing for Member Institutions.

Danny Zusman, founder and CEO of The Virtual Care Group said, “We are excited to have a growing list of campuses partnering with us to provide 24/7 UNLIMITED telehealth (telemedicine, teletherapy, life coaching, and on-demand crisis counseling) access for their students. Our well-being solutions are customizable and affordable ensuring we can find the best fit for the unique needs of each campus. Best of all, consortium discount pricing is now available thanks to our partnership.”

To learn how The Virtual Care Group can help you better support your students, please schedule a no-obligation demo with VCG today by clicking HERE. 

On May 17, 2023 3:00 PM EST, The Virtual Care Group will host a webinar to showcase the many benefits of partnering with a higher-ed focused telehealth provider to meet the ever increasing demand of students.

Almost 50 percent of 2022 entering college students report being “emotionally/mentally” exhausted (BCSSE, 2022) as they were beginning college. With the increase in student need running head first into exhausted front-line caregiver staff, sustainable solutions are complicated.

We would encourage you to register today as space is limited! As a partner with the LGBTQ Leaders in Higher Education, VCG looks forward to discussing:

  • Available solutions 
  • Case study successes
  • Our barrier free approach ensuring access and equity
  • Consortium discount pricing

Announcing LGBTQ Leaders in Higher Education

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The LGBTQ Presidents in Higher Education is now the LGBTQ Leaders in Higher Education. The nonprofit organization, incorporated in 2012 by a group of out LGBTQ college and university presidents, adopted a new mission to go along with its new name. The changes were approved at a meeting of the organization’s membership on March 27, 2023 in Chicago. 

The mission of the new organization is “to advance effective leadership, create support networks and advocate for LGBTQ issues in the post-secondary academic sector.”

Photo of Richard Helldobler

“The new name and mission reflect the broader goals of the organization,” said Richard Helldobler, newly-elected President of the LGBTQ Leaders and President of William Paterson University. “Our membership is now reflective of many levels of LGBTQ leadership, and we are committed to celebrating, advancing and increasing LGBTQ leadership across American higher education.” 

Other officers elected are: Erika Endrijonas, Pasadena City College, Past-President; Kristin Esterberg, University of Washington, Bothell, President-Elect; Daniel Lopez, Harold Washington College, Secretary; Dick Senese, Capella University, Treasurer. A full list of board members is available here. 

The LGBTQ Leadership Institute, the organization’s marquee event, is hosted by and will take place at Southern Connecticut State University in New Haven on October 18 and 19th, 2023. For more information, see the Events page.   

LGBTQ Leaders in Higher Education began in 2010 as a networking group of out LGBTQ presidents and chancellors. The organization incorporated in 2012 as LGBTQ Presidents in Higher Education. Membership is open to leaders at all levels of responsibility at colleges and universities, and associated higher education organizations, in the United States. 

Members-only Discussion Lounge

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One of the newest features of our website is a members-only discussion board via Discord.

What’s a “discord”? According to the Discord website, their “servers are organized into topic-based channels where you can collaborate, share, and just talk about your day without clogging up a group chat.” Our Discord server is a members-only lounge for discussion of issues, posting questions or event notices, and general shenanigans. 

For example, if you’re the only out lesbian provost in your state, you might want to chat with other lgbtq provosts around the country. Or if you’re in a border town and want to collaborate with others in your area about the rise of anti-queer curriculum, you can look for queer peers on our server. Where else can you do that? The server is web-based, or you can download the Discord app. 

Log in to account by clicking on the blue bar above to find out more.

Special Membership Meeting

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LGBTQ Presidents and Leaders in Higher Education will hold an important in person meeting of the membership on March 27 at 10:00 (CST) in Chicago.

The purpose of this meeting is to review and consider changes to the Association’s bylaws. One of the changes will allow bylaws to be adopted in a virtual meeting. The current bylaws do not allow for that. You will have the option to attend the meeting via a Zoom webinar, but only members attending in person will be allowed to vote on the bylaws changes.

NOTE: Once the bylaws have been adopted, even members attending remotely will be able to vote on other actions that day, including a slate of candidates to the board who will serve until the next Annual Meeting (in October 2023).

There will be a free webinar to discuss the bylaws changes and the plans we have for the Association if those changes are adopted. The webinar will be held on Zoom on March 7 at 3:00 (Eastern), Noon (Pacific). That event was recorded: see the recording here. Enter passcode: v0Sm+FkU.

Our new website has space set aside for members-only content. To access the members area, all you need to do is claim your account: click on “log in” at the top of the page. Enter the email address associated with your membership and click “forgot password” to reset your password.

Register FREE for the Special Membership Meeting in Chicago here.

Investing in the Next Generation of Leadership

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Earlier this year, Johns Hopkins University Press published LGBTQ Leadership in Higher Education, edited by Raymond Crossman, President of Adler University and a founding member of the LGBTQ Presidents in Higher Education. The book collects essays and reflections by over a dozen college and university presidents, chancellors, and CEOs. As a special thank you to contributors, we will give a free ebook for any gift of $50 or more, received by December 31, 2022.

Cover image of the book LGBTQ Leadership in Higher Education
LGBTQ Leadership in Higher Education from Johns Hopkins University Press

In November, we collected a few passages from the book that inspired us and shared them on social media. If you follow us on LinkedIn, you may have seen the following images. If not, you can enjoy them here. 

photo of Karen Whitney and text
Karen Whitney on LGBTQ Leadership

“Awareness, understanding, and perfecting how we successfully navigate the dominant culture’s structures of power and privilege forms the basis of an LGBTQ leader-navigator style.” Karen Whitney is President Emerita of Clarion University of Pennsylvania, where she served as President from 2010 to 2017, and the former Interim Chancellor of University of Illinois Springfield (2020-22) and former Interim Chancellor of Pennsylvania’s State System of Higher Education (2017-18).

photo of Rusty Barcelo and text
Rusty Barcelo on intersectionality and leadership

“We will all have to be multiculturalists—meaning inclusive of all groups and recognizing the salience of intersectionality calling for new forms of leadership. As academic leaders, we must model multicultural leadership by breaking out of comfort zones, to embrace diversity and work across cultural differences.” Rusty Barcelo is the former President of Northern New Mexico College (2010-15).

Terry Allison on the gay voice

“For some of us gay men, homophobia has meant managing people’s hostile reaction to our sounding too queer. Homophobia silences us, making us less likely to lead.” Terry Allison is the former Chancellor of Indiana University at South Bend (2013-18) and the former Executive Director of the LGBTQ Presidents in Higher Education (2020-22).

photo of Erika Endrijonas and text
Erika Endrijonas on being a lesbian-feminist leader

“I’m a lesbian feminist leader who understands what it feels like to be the ‘other,’ which I believe makes me sensitive to assumptions about who our students are and what they need to be successful.” Erika Endrijonas is the co-chair of the board for the LGBTQ Presidents in Higher Education. She is Superintendent-President of Pasadena City College, where she has served since 2019. Previous to that, she was President of Los Angeles Valley College.

You can still give to LGBTQ Presidents and Leaders in Higher Education before December 31, 2022 to receive a free e-book! Click on the DONATE button above.

LGBTQ Presidents Response to Colorado Springs Tragedy

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We are saddened and outraged at the senseless gun violence that has once again targeted the LGBTQ community, this time at Club Q in Colorado Springs. As leaders in higher education we know the importance of safe spaces for young and marginalized people. 

LGBTQ young people have been under increasing attacks from politicians and public figures for years. We must stop the anti-LGBTQ rhetoric that breeds violence against us. These abhorrent acts of violence harm those killed and wounded, their loved ones, and entire communities. 

That this attack happened on the eve of Transgender Day of Rememberance, November 20, is particularly disheartening. 

LGBTQ Presidents in Higher Education stands in solidarity, support, and love for our communities around the country.

The mission of LGBTQ Presidents in Higher Education includes provision of “education and advocacy regarding LGBTQ issues within the global academy and for the public at large.” We remain committed to such advocacy for the rights of LGBTQ people, inside and outside of the academy. We expect, and will hold accountable, our elected and appointed officials to be committed to the rights and equality of all Americans.

LGBTQ Presidents in Higher Education advances effective leadership in the realm of post-secondary education, supports professional development of LGBTQ leaders in that sector, and provides education and advocacy regarding LGBTQ issues within the global academy and for the public at large.

Hartwick College in Happy Transition

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In September 2021, Hartwick College (Oneonta, NY) announced that its president, Dr. Margaret Drugovich, one of the first out LGBTQ presidents in higher education in the U.S., would be retiring in June 2022 after fourteen years of leading the campus. In April 2022, the board of trustees at Hartwick announced its incoming president, Mr. Darren Reisman, JD, who will also become a member of LGBTQ Presidents and Leaders in Higher Education. Executive Director Terry Allison conducted telephone interviews with both the outgoing and incoming presidents to share with you some of their leadership and career experiences.

President Drugovich Reflects on a Successful Tenure
Allison: Thank you for speaking with me today, Margaret. I wonder what originally brought you to Hartwick College and what advice you might have for other leaders in choosing a leadership position.
Drugovich: I’m happy to speak with you, Terry. My advice is to try as hard as you can to find a good fit for your experience and for your leadership style. Hartwick College emphasizes broad-based liberal arts education enhanced with experiential learning. I completely embraced this combination. That was a great fit for me. From the start, everything about Hartwick appealed to me. The commitment of the board and the community was tremendous. The students were more collaborative than competitive, and very engaged. Since I’ve been here, we’ve had major challenges: the Great Recession; the demographic downturn; now the pandemic. I originally found that Hartwick had a strong community, and this has proven to be true as we negotiated our way through these crises. Of course, we never can know all about an institution, but if I were to advise someone today, I’d say, “Pay attention to red flags; don’t underestimate problems that you detect. There are always challenges; make sure you’re comfortable with them.”
Allison: In undertaking a leadership position, we’re always met with surprises, sometimes delightful, sometimes disappointing. Is there anything about serving as the campus leader that surprised you?
Drugovich: How phenomenally generous people are. I have found it to be a great privilege, a life-giving opportunity, to be with people who are willing to give so much support to others. It’s a beautiful thing; it truly is. Also, I found the adage, “all politics are local” surprisingly true. People in higher education often start from a very altruistic place, but they also think very locally, and have a tendency to prioritize those issues most important to them.
Allison: I used to use the analogy of opening day on San Francisco Bay, a resplendent display, but no one heading in the same direction.
Drugovich: Exactly. As presidents, we feel a great sense of urgency to guide an institution towards a common direction. Individuals must be willing to move beyond the local to see the broader picture. That’s the leadership challenge, bridging that gap.
Allison: Your time at Hartwick College of fourteen years has more than doubled the recent average for presidents nationwide. Why did you find it important to stay? How did you keep your leadership fresh during your long and successful tenure?
Drugovich: I promised myself I’d stay as long as I could move Hartwick forward. I have such a deep belief in the place and the community. We have maintained forward motion inspired by our aspirations. I worked hard at alignment with the board, and once achieved, that’s invaluable to a president. So, before now, it was never the right time to leave. Now, we have our Flightpath platform in place, we have completed the first year of a fundraising campaign to support Flightpath, we are celebrating the 225th anniversary of our founding—it seemed to me to be an ideal time for a leadership transition.
Allison: And have you decided on next steps?
Drugovich: I’ve decided to give myself some time, to take six months to think about what is next. I’ve been collecting advice from people I admire on the best way to navigate this time of transition. It is time for some reflection.
Allison: You’ll be giving a keynote address at our upcoming Leadership Institute (June 15-17, 2022, Pasadena City College). Could you give us a preview?
Drugovich: I’m calling it, “It’s Not About You; It’s All About You: Navigating the Public Space of Leadership.” Mostly, we begin our leadership with the idea of service; it’s not about us, but the college, the mission. But, as soon as you are the president, you’re the decision-maker. It is about you. It becomes very personal as you are the one who has to say no. That’s often what people remember most, that you’re the one, for example, who would not approve the funding for what is most important to them. You enter the position with a service framework, then the political framework quickly takes over. Very few of us are prepared for this aspect of leadership. I think it will be an interesting topic for us to discuss.
Allison: How should one prepare? If you were advising a mid-career leader in higher education about the career goal of a presidency, what might be your first question?
Drugovich: What is your personal motivation for wanting the role? Power, influence, financial rewards – those are not the best reasons as they are unlikely to sustain you. Leadership goals must come from an authentic place. Some people might say, “I’m ready; I’d like to contribute more.” That’s authentic. Then they have to be prepared to work harder than they may have imagined. My mother once said to me, “But Margaret, you’re the president! Why do you have to work so hard?” There is much that the president does behind the scenes; what is publicly visible is only one part of the role.
Allison: Very few institutions in the U.S. or internationally have had LGBTQ presidents, chancellors, or CEOs. Hartwick College is one of the very first to have successive presidents who will be part of our organization. Does this say anything about Hartwick College? Or is this coincidence?
Drugovich: I have two answers. First, Hartwick is an open, welcoming community. And during my time here, I am certain that my situation – I was the first out lesbian president with children on a campus -helped to sustain and grow that acceptance. I know because people have told me that this encouraged students, faculty, staff, to join the campus. Second, we had a comprehensive presidential search with a deep pool of great candidates, and Darren Reisberg was simply the best candidate. He will find a safe and welcoming environment here.
Allison: Thank you, Margaret. It’s been great speaking with you. Would you like to add anything?
Drugovich: Yes. I’m looking forward to speaking at the Leadership Institute. Higher education needs leaders who are able, willing, and passionate about growing their skills. I’ll see you in Pasadena.

Towards the Next Stage of Success
Darren Reisberg will assume the presidency of Hartwick College on August 1, 2022. Mr. Hartwick is currently Executive Vice President and Chief Strategy Office of the Joyce Foundation as well Chair of the State Board of Education in Illinois. He previously worked at a major law firm, then in senior leadership roles at the University of Chicago.

Allison: Welcome to our organization, Darren. My first question is one you were likely asked repeatedly in the interview process, “Why Hartwick College?”
Reisman: Thank you, Terry. I found that Hartwick could clearly articulate its value in combining the liberal arts and experiential education. With its new Flightpath platform, it has momentum, energy, and relevance. Twenty percent of students are in Nursing, a high-need major. Hartwick is deeply committed to sustainability. And…you can’t put a price on how beautiful it is. The campus and the area are stunning. I also grew up in New York and northern New Jersey, so in a way, it’s a homecoming.
Allison: Could you discuss your career path? You stepped out of higher education for several years? Does that help you in the role of the president?
Reisberg: To chair the State Board of Education, I had to find a position where I could do both. At a private foundation, I could see much better how to make the case for support, and how to align the request with the goals of the foundation. There has to be some give and take. Having been on the other side, I think I’ll be able to make better asks.
Allison: What challenges do you anticipate coming into Hartwick College and your first presidency?
Reisberg: Hartwick invested much in designing a new platform, Flightpath, which has just been implemented. It provides each student with a personalized guidance team of four: a student success coach; an academic advisor; a career coach; and an alumni mentor who also connects the student to internships. As president, I will need to work with students, faculty, staff, the board, our communities and our alumni to make Flightpath a success. We will need to implement and evolve Flightpath while continuing to engage everyone in its success. Our board members are making extraordinary commitments to working with our students so that we can sustain meaningful internships. My challenge is to take my previous experience in policy and politics to help Hartwick succeed in this essential project.
Allison: Speaking of politics, I wonder if you’d like to comment on a topic from our upcoming Leadership Institute from your perspective as chair of a state board of education. We will discuss “Confronting the Moral Panic,” and how higher education can work more closely with K-12 to address the anti-Critical Race Theory and so-called “Don’t Say Gay Laws.”
Reisberg: In Illinois, I co-chaired with a student a Safe and Affirmative Schools initiative. Higher education can work with K-12 to put out clear guidelines on that; how to support diverse students, including trans, non-binary, and questioning students. We worked to implement culturally responsive teaching and leading standards. I realize that some states are not at all on that path. Perhaps more research and case studies from states like Illinois will provide evidence about the benefits of safe and affirmative education and schools. Higher education prepares the teachers, of course, so building teachers’ expertise in these areas is critical.
Allison: Are there any other thoughts that you’d like to share with us, Darren, as you move into the president’s role?
Reisberg: I feel very lucky to have had great mentors in college presidents. Find yourself a mentor! I think it’s important to be excited and optimistic, but not delusional. I’m energized and motivated, but it’s hard work leading an organization. I’m humbled by the opportunity.
Allison: As I mentioned to President Drugovich, you’ll be the second consecutive LGBTQ president at Hartwick. And I’ll ask you the same question. Does that say something about Hartwick or is it just chance?
Reisberg: Hartwick is a very welcoming environment and so is much of higher education. I give all the credit to people like Margaret and to your organization’s work in helping higher education to become more inclusive. During my interviews, I never faced questions or felt any concern about sexual orientation. We’ve come a long way in a short time.

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