Lead to Serve: A Closer Look at the EDUCAUSE Institute Faculty

Each stage of a career is marked with significant moments of impact—instances when a person knows that every day from that day forward will be different. While those memories may fade over time, what remains constant in a person's life are the difference makers—the mentors and leaders who helped to elevate that individual personally and professionally. No matter the charge, these difference makers were more than happy to be a resource, and they were always ready to serve.

The EDUCAUSE Institute programs provide unique opportunities for faculty to align their expertise, ability to connect with others, and heart to serve. These immersive learning experiences push the boundary of professional growth and help shape what it means to lead from where you are. The EDUCAUSE Institute faculty aim to facilitate knowledge sharing while building skills, capacity, and community.

EDUCAUSE will be launching an Institute faculty recruitment process later this month. To gain a deeper understanding of the path to becoming an Institute faculty member, EDUCAUSE connected with PB Garrett, higher education consultant at Garrett Consulting; Ed Hudson, chief information security officer at California State University; and David Weil, associate vice president and chief information officer at Ithaca College. All of these leaders have served as faculty director for the Institute during their career, and we, on the professional development team, were curious to learn about their initial engagement with EDUCAUSE. We also asked these professionals what advice they would share with those interested in joining the ranks of the Institute faculty.

First, we wanted to understand the personal journey taken by these leaders as they navigated their career and their involvement with EDUCAUSE.

PB: I've been attending the EDUCAUSE Annual Conference for over fifteen years—first when there was Educom and CAUSE, before they merged, so I go way back. I have also attended a number of regional events and ELI Annual Meetings and have become heavily involved in committee work. Over that same time, I also attended the EDUCAUSE Institute Management and Leadership Programs. Later, I was invited to teach in the Management Program. I served as a faculty member for four years and as the faculty director for one year. Another important factor for my professional development was getting a mentor. This was something that EDUCAUSE recommended, and it absolutely changed my life. And lastly, the webinars and listservs help to provide amazing connections and valuable resources. Use the information that's at your fingertips; it makes a difference.

Ed: My journey to becoming involved with EDUCAUSE was interesting because while I knew of the organization, I worked at a campus that was not active with EDUCAUSE. About four years ago, I sought out some coaching and mentoring from a CIO who was very active with EDUCAUSE, and she encouraged me to become involved. I was looking for ways to expand my understanding of higher education as an industry and to make better connections outside my own organization. Her coaching and encouragement have been transformative to my career, and I've since volunteered on the Security Professionals Conference Program Committee and attended both the Leadership and Leading Change Institute. All of that led me to me becoming more deeply involved with EDUCAUSE. I interact with the Higher Education Information Security Council, and it's been impactful to my career.

Dave: I attended Educom back when it was separate from CAUSE. Early on in my career, I attended a conference, and the director I reported to ask me to copresent a session with him and our provost. It really showed me this whole world of people who are interested in the same topics and want to share their knowledge with others. Next, I attended one of the EDUCAUSE Institute Management Programs and again was just really impressed with the people and the quality of the work and the thought processes. The Management Program expanded my thinking about management and leadership. So, I slowly started getting involved, first by putting my name in to become a proposal reader, which led to me serving on my first program committee. From there, I began presenting at regional conferences and then at the national conference. In short, I just kept raising my hand and submitting my name, and good things have followed.

While these higher education professionals have followed varying career paths, the roads they have taken have all led them to serve as faculty director for the EDUCAUSE Institute. One noticeable thread that weaves through their collective experiences is their willingness to get involved. When asked, these leaders shared the following advice for their colleagues who are thinking about taking that next step toward becoming a faculty member for the Institute.

Dave: Much of the process is knowing yourself and understanding your strengths and what you bring to the table. When I think about crafting a team of faculty for an Institute, it's helpful to have a diverse set of faculty with varied perspectives and strengths. The other important part is being honest and vulnerable. As faculty, we're there to help model behavior and make connections. It's easy for a faculty member to feel like they're the sage on the stage. But I think the most effective faculty are the ones who are real and say they don't have all the answers. We're sharing our knowledge and experiences, and that's what allows others to connect.

PB: I would say that it's sort of like being hired as an adjunct faculty member. But don't just be the adjunct. Become the full-time professor who wants tenure in the department. Take the time to really interact with the other faculty and with the students. I loved the conversations that happened in the hallways, during breakfast, and at dinner. Get to know the others and their expertise and be willing to learn from each other. It's going to be a phenomenal experience, and you're going to learn a lot.

Ed: Attend some of the courses first, and really get a feel for what the EDUCAUSE professional development group is building and the direction they're going to go. You must decide if that direction is a good fit for you. But there's really no substitute for going through the courses and seeing how the EDUCAUSE team is putting them together and starting to forge those relationships with the team. I can't say enough about the great things that they're doing. The direction that they're taking us is just amazing.

As you can see, becoming an EDUCAUSE Institute faculty member reaches far beyond the classroom. While the primary function of the role is to facilitate learning, one of major benefits is the opportunity to become part of a larger community. These leaders are proof that amazing things happen when leadership aligns with the desire to serve.

If you are interested in learning more about the benefits of becoming an EDUCAUSE Institute faculty member and serving the organization in this role, please visit our faculty and recruitment website.

Shana Campbell is Manager of Professional Learning at EDUCAUSE.