*Adapted from keynote presentation for the VCU Grace E. Harris Leadership Institute luncheon, October 13, 2017 in Richmond, VA. In April 2002, I received an anonymous email – a very threatening and untraceable anonymous email sent from a remailer in … Continue reading
Institutions of higher education (IHEs) have often been viewed as slow to change and to prefer, and even perpetuate, the status quo or the “way we have always done it”. Thus, IHEs often appear to be (or are) risk-averse and … Continue reading
In the early 1990s a colleague used the word “futurisktic” or at least that’s what I thought I heard. (Note: I tried to give him credit years ago but he claims not to have coined the word). Anyway, I was … Continue reading
It seems like I’ve been advocating for change in higher education for a long time now. In some of my presentations dating back 1990s and recent blogs include posts about a ‘futurisktic‘ perspectives, university for the 21st century (Duderstadt, 2001), … Continue reading
Team work is not a new concept but is likely taking on greater significance in the 21st century. Working in teams is needed not only to understand and address the complexity of the issues facing society today but to recognize … Continue reading
Words like revolution, transformation and risk-taking are not necessarily common in higher education….until recently. And I’m delighted to see the change. “Of the institutions that had been established in the Western world by 1520, 85 still exist – Catholic Church, … Continue reading
Building academic community for graduate students has been a goal of the Virginia Tech Graduate School since at least 2002. Universities traditionally have fostered a sense of community for the undergraduate experience but often left the graduate student experience in … Continue reading