Dr. Walter Kimbrough, President of Dillard University, has been recognized for his research and writings on HBCUs and African American men in college. Recently, he has emerged as one of the leaders discussing free speech on college campuses. Dr. Kimbrough is well known throughout U.S. higher ed for his social media savvy and has been featured in several publications highlighting his successes in engagement. 

In this episode of Rebuilding the American Dream, Dr. Kimbrough discusses the paths to his success, his experiences at Dillard and especially the secret to his incredible success in engaging alumni, students and families all at the same time. Dr. Kimbrough will be retiring from Dillard at the end of this academic year. We want to thank him for his time and dedication to Dillard and continuing to improve higher education in his next chapter. 

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"Radical" is not often a term associated with higher education institutions. President Laurie M. Joyner of Saint Xavier University in Chicago shares why radical, and more importantly, intentional conversations are needed today to improve student outcomes. "Education is the passport to a more meaningful life and successful careers", she says and we need to be better about communicating what higher education entails through that radical transparency, as people contemplate their futures.

Laurie M. Joyner, Ph.D., brought extensive leadership experience to Saint Xavier University in Chicago as the institution's 20th president, joining in 2017. Prior to SXU, Dr. Joyner served as president of Wittenberg University in Ohio as well as in multiple vice presidential and decanal roles at Rollins College in Florida.

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President Richard Dunsworth, of the University of the Ozarks in Clarksville, Arkansas joins us on this episode of Rebuilding the American Dream. A first generation college graduate, Rich shares some of the advice and counsel he gives to each incoming first year student: Invite someone to invest in you. And as you move through your collegiate experiences, are you investing in your own growth, not just in the classroom, but in the community? 

Richard Dunsworth became the 25th president of University of the Ozarks in 2013.  The university has been consistently ranked by U.S. News & World Report in its annual “Great Schools, Great Prices,” category. Prior to arriving at Ozarks, President Dunsworth was an administrator for 22 years at Millikin University in Decatur, IL.  A native of Colorado, Dunsworth has earned degrees from Colorado State University in Fort Collins, Eastern Illinois University and University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

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Dr. Roger Parrott has developed a unique leadership style and college growth path that discards traditional long range destination planning. Built on trust, embracing speed and looking for opportunities, Dr. Parrott and Belhaven University have changed the culture of their operations away from traditional models of university growth plans. In this very engaging episode of Rebuilding the American Dream, Dr. Parrott shares some of those insights, the benefits gained by becoming a more agile institution and practical ways to make changes across campus cultures.

Dr. Parrott is a third generation college president, first accepting the role at age 34. Belhaven is one of the fastest growing and most innovative colleges, serving 5,000 students, including an online campus in China and was named one of “America’s Best Colleges to Work For” by the Chronicle of Higher Education. ​ ​​Dr. Parrott was named one of “The 10 Most Visionary Education Leaders of 2021” by Education Magazine. Dr. Parrott's new book, Opportunity Leadership: Stop Planning and Start Getting Results was released February 1, 2022 and can be found wherever books are sold. Learn more at https://www.opportunityleadership.com

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President Brad Mortensen has a penchant for understanding and appreciating the dedication that the people of Ogden, Utah have for Weber State University.  A history buff, he shares in this latest episode of Rebuilding the American Dream podcast, some of the challenges that Weber State has faced and how it has overcome and continued to grow through the building and leveraging of partnerships. Not only with the citizens, but the local and statewide government, business, health care and other institutions of higher learning.  

President Brad Mortensen joined Weber State in Utah in 2004 and has led efforts in alumni relations, economic development, government relations, marketing and communications beyond the university. Brad has been active with several northern Utah organizations and was named as Utah business as 2018 CXO of the year. 

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Dr. Tina Holland of Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University has service focused at the heart of everything she does. As a second generation American and a former intelligence officer in the US Marine Corp, Dr. Holland has an inherent call to civic duty and community. 

In this episode of Rebuilding the American Dream, Dr. Holland discusses what those working in higher education owe to students; and in turn what new graduates owe to the the community.  Additionally, she offers some great practical advice for helping to discern one's own vocation. 

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President Thomas Hudson of Jackson State University has spent his career lifting others up, from his time as a lawyer with a private practice with an equity based focused, to his current tenure as Jackson State University's president.  

Dedicated to the community that JSU anchors, President Hudson has described JSU's role for students, employees, businesses, citizens as holistic. "This is being a beacon, if you will... To be a part of that solution to drive progressive ideas in in different ways of doing things, to help the surrounding community and make things better."

Listen to this episode of Rebuilding the American Dream to learn more about what President Hudson and JSU are doing to fortify its mission to produce ethical and technologically advanced global leaders who properly address societal problems and compete effectively.  

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Dr. José-Marie Griffiths, president of Dakota State University in Madison, South Dakota has spent her career in research, teaching, public service, corporate leadership, economic development, and higher education administration.  She has served in presidential appointments to several national committees, let projects for federal agencies and has received over 20 significant awards in science, technology, teaching and the advancement of women in these fields.

In this episode of Rebuilding the American Dream, Dr. Griffiths discusses the challenges and successes of preparing today's students for technical jobs that do not yet exist. We also delve into thoughtful conversation about partnerships between public issues and university research, up-skilling and stacking credentials and the benefit of having a guarantee on your degree.

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President Troy VanAken has helped to grow Elmhurst University (IL) in ways not often seen consistently, and certainly incredible in the middle of a pandemic.
In this episode of the Rebuilding the American Dream podcast, President VanAken shared some of the keys to his success over the past 5 years and what he, the faculty and staff are doing at Elmhurst to build a sustainable model for their continued growth.

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