IngenioUs Leadership Series: The Power of Purposeful Leadership

In this episode of IngenioUs, Melissa Morriss-Olson explores how visionary leaders ground their decisions in a deep sense of purpose, using their personal and institutional missions to drive meaningful change. Leadership isn’t just about holding a title—it’s about leading with conviction, aligning with your "why," and using purpose as a guide for innovation and impact.

Drawing inspiration from leaders like Mark Lombardi and Michael Sorrell, this episode highlights how clarity of purpose fuels transformation, resilience, and bold decision-making. Whether shaping institutional culture, driving innovation, or overcoming challenges, leaders who anchor their actions in purpose create lasting impact.

Key Takeaways:

✅ Align your leadership with your "why." Purpose provides direction and clarity, ensuring every decision contributes to a greater mission.
✅ Use purpose as a catalyst for transformation and innovation. Visionary leaders embrace change and take bold action when their mission demands it.
✅ Anchor decisions in core values. Staying grounded in what matters most creates trust, consistency, and long-term impact.
✅ A career shaped by purpose is a career that sustains you. Leaders who operate with deep conviction find meaning and fulfillment in their work.
✅ Purpose fuels perseverance. Leaders with a strong sense of purpose are more resilient in the face of obstacles and uncertainty.
✅ Leaders grounded in purpose don’t settle for the status quo. They challenge outdated models and continuously seek ways to improve and innovate.
✅ Purpose isn't just personal—it must be woven into the DNA of an institution. The most effective leaders embed purpose into the culture, strategy, and daily operations of their organizations.
✅ When you align your work with what truly matters to you, you create lasting impact. Purpose-driven leadership has the power to transform individuals, institutions, and communities.

Chapters

00:00 – The Power of Purposeful Leadership
02:50 – Finding Your North Star
05:48 – Crafting a Purpose-Driven Career
08:50 – Purpose as a Catalyst for Innovation

🔹 Purpose fuels perseverance.
🔹 A career shaped by purpose is one that sustains you.
🔹 Leaders grounded in purpose don’t settle for the status quo.

📖 Read the full article here!
🎥 Watch the accompanying video here!

We’d love to hear from you! How does your purpose shape your leadership? Share your thoughts with the IngenioUs community. Thank you for being part of this journey!

In this engaging interview, President Tuajuanda Jordan of

Takeaways

St. Mary's College is a public honors college focused on academic excellence and accessibility.

Dr. Jordan's maternal influence shaped her leadership style and resilience.

Mentorship is crucial for emerging leaders, especially women in higher education.

Navigating change in higher education often involves overcoming resistance and fear.

Dr Jordan emphasizes the importance of community engagement in institutional decisions.

Her leadership style is consultative, valuing diverse perspectives.

The commemorative to enslaved Southern Maryland reflects a commitment to inclusivity and history.

Dr. Jordan's legacy is rooted in academic excellence and support for diverse students.

Self-awareness and adaptability are key traits for effective leadership.

Dr. Jordan encourages future leaders to embrace change and be prepared for challenges.

Sound Bites

"Never ever let them see you angry."

"I am an acceleration junkie."

"Don't be afraid to do something different."

Chapters

00:00Introduction to St. Mary's College of Maryland

06:43Tawanda's Leadership Journey and Influences

10:50Challenges in Leadership as a Woman of Color

14:32Advice for Future Leaders

20:53Leadership Style and Superpowers

31:33Commemorative to Enslaved Peoples of Southern Maryland

38:27Legacy and Future Contributions

48:23Inspiration for Future Women Leaders

50:21IngenioUs Outro.mp4

In this latest episode of IngenioUs, we dive into the transformative leadership journey of Dr. Elizabeth Meade, President of Cedar Crest College. From her roots as a philosophy professor to becoming president, Dr. Meade’s story is one of courage, curiosity, and bold leadership.

What sets her apart? Dr. Meade doesn’t just talk about change—she leads it through the lens of design thinking. Discover how this strategic framework has reshaped Cedar Crest’s approach to planning, problem-solving, and student success. You’ll hear how initiatives like the “Laptops for Learners” program are closing the digital divide and how growth-focused strategies helped reverse enrollment declines, even amid financial challenges.

But this isn’t just about institutional transformation. Dr. Meade gets candid about the personal side of leadership—the resilience required to navigate crises, the complexity of work-life balance for women leaders, and the power of inclusive decision-making. Whether you’re an aspiring leader or a seasoned executive, her insights on equity, innovation, and the future of women’s colleges will leave you inspired and ready to take action.

Key Takeaways:

• ​Why design thinking isn’t just for products—it’s a leadership superpower.
• ​Growth doesn’t happen by accident; it requires bold, data-driven decisions.
• ​The digital divide is real, but it’s solvable with the right strategies.
• ​Women’s colleges remain critical in shaping the next generation of leaders.
• ​Leadership is as much about personal growth as it is about institutional change.

Don’t miss this thought-provoking conversation about reimagining leadership in higher education.

 Sound Bites

"You have to be willing tolead the change."

"Say yes to opportunitiesthat come your way."

"We need to erase the digitaldivide."

"We saw a 3.6% increase inenrollment this fall."

"We can't cut our way to abalance."

"Inclusivity is key to myleadership style."

"I had to learn to bedecisive."

"Women need to be at everytable."

"Demonstrating what women'sleadership can accomplish."

"The experience of being awoman in the world matters."

 Chapters:

00:00Pathway to Leadership

04:54Innovative Initiatives and Design Thinking

09:31Enrollment Challenges and Growth Strategies

17:32Advancing Women in STEM

25:46Leadership Style and Inclusivity

36:15Resilience and Personal Growth

39:50Work-Life Balance and Gender Dynamics

43:24Vision for Cedar Crest's Future

47:19SEason 6 Outro

Leadership in higher education goes beyond operational

 In this first article of a new blog series, Dr. Morriss-Olson explores a foundational theme: the transformative power of leadership that prioritizes people and a human-centered culture.  The stories in her latest book Ingenious

Read the full article here or listen to this mini-episode.

Welcome to Season 6 of IngenioUs! We’re kicking off this exciting new season, focused exclusively on women leaders in higher education, with a conversation you won’t want to miss. In this premiere episode, we sit down with Dr. Carol

From her trailblazing tenure as the first woman Chancellor at UC Berkeley to her transformative leadership at Smith

Whether you're an aspiring leader or a seasoned

Key Takeaways

Chapters

00:00Carol

00:52Fundraising

26:29Crisis

28:22Advice

30:33Balancing

34:23Challenges

37:26Reflections

In his latest University design column, David J. Staley explores the significance of body language and gestures in educational settings. He emphasizes the need for educators to be attuned to nonverbal cues from students and discusses how gestures can convey thoughts and ideas beyond spoken language. The conversation also touches on the impact of technology on communication, particularly in the context of remote learning, and speculates on the future of artificial intelligence in understanding and utilizing body language.

Takeaways:

Chapters

00:00Understanding Body Language in Education

06:14The Role of Gesture in Communication

08:55Implications of Technology on Nonverbal Communication

Season Six Premieres Next Week!

We’re thrilled to share a special new season of the IngenioUs podcast with you!

Season Six, launching next Tuesday, dives deep into the stories, insights, and wisdom of extraordinary women leaders in higher education.

In a time of financial pressures, enrollment challenges, and the push for more inclusive campuses, women leaders are stepping up in remarkable ways to shape the future of higher education. This season, you’ll hear their stories—about breaking barriers, making tough decisions, and creating environments where others can thrive.

Whether you’re a seasoned leader, an aspiring one, or someone passionate about education and innovation, these conversations are for you.

Here’s how you can get ready:
🎧 Subscribe to IngenioUs on your favorite podcast platform so you won’t miss a single episode.
📤 Share this email with friends and colleagues who’d enjoy these inspiring conversations.

Watch our Season 6 video teaser here for a taste of what's in store.

Thank you for being part of the IngenioUs community. Let’s listen, learn, and celebrate the women shaping the future of higher education.

Warm regards,

Host, IngenioUs Podcast

P.S. Know someone who’d love this? Forward this email and invite them to subscribe!

In his most recent University Design column, David J. Staley explores the concept of distributed academic leadership and the potential of decentralized autonomous organizations (DAOs) in transforming university governance. He draws parallels between the roles of university presidents and soccer coaches, suggesting that the current model often leads to accountability falling on a single individual. By proposing a DAO structure, he envisions a university where governance is shared among all stakeholders, utilizing blockchain technology for transparency and participation. This model empowers students, faculty, and alumni to collaboratively shape their educational experience and maintain ongoing involvement in the institution's future.

Key Takeaways:

Chapters

00:00Rethinking University Leadership

02:58Decentralized Autonomous Organizations in Education

05:51Empowering Stakeholders through Token Governance

Join us for this special mini-episode of the IngenioUs U

🗓 Webinar Details:

 In this mini-episode, Julie shares key insights into the

Don't miss this opportunity to hear from one of the nation’s leading experts on student success! Register now using the link below to join the webinar on November 14th, where Julie will provide deeper insights,

📲 Register Here: https://register.gotowebinar.com/register/3390461092964568158

📢 Tune In: Listen now to this mini-episode to learn more and get a sneak peek of the upcoming webinar.

With so many challenges facing enrollment leaders today,

To give us a sneak peek into what you can expect, listen in as Dr. Lauren Way, Director of our Graduate Program in

To register for the webinar, see here.

Takeaways

Chapters

00:00Introduction to the Webinar

00:34Challenges and Innovative Approaches in Enrollment

01:03Introducing Dr. Lauren Way

01:46Introduction and Background

03:45The Shift Towards Online Programs

05:02The Lack of Visibility in Lead Performance

06:24Synchronizing Marketing and Recruitment

07:50Actionable Strategies for Aligning Marketing and Recruitment

09:26Achieving Process Efficiency and a Student-Focused Approach