Episode 15 - Leo Lambert Creating a Sense of Belonging

05/02/22 • 46 min

Leo M. Lambert is President Emeritus and Professor at Elon University. Lambert served as president from 1999-2018, leading Elon’s rise to national prominence by promoting a student-centered culture that values strong relationships between students and their faculty and staff mentors. Focused on developing students as global citizens, ethical leaders and creative problem-solvers, Lambert led two strategic plans, creating a model for the modern liberal arts university.

Led by President Lambert, Elon built a national reputation for academic excellence across the curriculum, including the sheltering of a chapter of Phi Beta Kappa, and for its innovative programs in study abroad, undergraduate research, leadership, interfaith dialogue, civic engagement and community service, and preparing students for meaningful careers and advanced study.

Elon’s campus grew tremendously during Lambert’s presidency. More than 100 new buildings were added, including major investments in the residential campus, building four major neighborhoods, integrating academic and residence life programs and nurturing a flourishing intellectual climate.

Lambert was a strong advocate for increasing access to higher education for students with high financial need and created the Odyssey Scholars program (for undergraduates attending Elon) and the Elon Academy (to support local high school students in gaining access to higher education).

Division 1 athletics advanced during Lambert’s tenure, including membership in the Colonial Athletics Association, the addition of important facilities such as Rhodes Stadium and the Schar Center, and the adoption of a new athletics identity, the Phoenix.

Lambert has written extensively about post-secondary education and is co-author of The Undergraduate Experience: Focusing Institutions on What Matters Most, published by Jossey-Bass in 2016. He was also co-editor of a book about university teaching that was published by the Syracuse University Press in 2005. His alma mater, the State University of New York at Geneseo, awarded him an honorary doctorate of humane letters in 2002. In 2009, he received the inaugural William M. Burke Presidential Award for Excellence in Experiential Education from the National Society for Experiential Education. His forthcoming book (with Peter Felten) will be published by The Johns Hopkins University Press.

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Episode 14 - Kurt Ewen - Philosophy of an Authentic Leader

Kurt Edward Ewen was born and raised in Orlando, Florida. He earned an Associate of Arts degree from Valencia Community College and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Philosophy from St. Meinrad College in St. Meinrad, Indiana. Graduate and post-graduate studies took him to the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, in Leuven, Belgium where he completed a Master’s degree in Religious Studies and a Licentiate in Sacred Theology (Sacrae Theologiae Licentiatus or S.T.L., a 2-year post-graduate degree) in Philosophical Theology. Kurt completed doctoral studies in Educational Leadership, with a specialization in Higher Education Administration, at Barry University in Miami Shores, Florida. His doctoral dissertation research extends his interest in collective sense-making to the role that data or evidence can play in creating the potential for collaborative decision-making and innovative practice in higher education. Kurt is currently serves as the Chief of Staff and Vice Chancellor of Strategy, Planning and Institutional Effectiveness and at Houston Community College (HCC). Prior to his move to Houston, Kurt worked at Valencia College in Orlando, Florida. In his 15+ years at Valencia, Kurt served as a Professor of Philosophy/Humanities, Director of Institutional Assessment, AVP for Institutional Effectiveness and Planning, and Presidential Fellow under Dr. Sanford “Sandy” Shugart.
Read pieces written by Kurt Ewen:
Recurring Anticipatory GriefA Rude AwakeningOn Falls and Falling

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Episode 16 - Andrew Koch Socially Just Design

Dr. Koch is a child of immigrants who came to the United States in pursuit of a better life for their family. His first language was not English, and postsecondary education was valued by his family as a means for realizing the American Dream. He is a staunch advocate and leader of efforts that increase student access to and, ultimately, completion of postsecondary education. He has worked in and with higher education institutions for nearly 30 years. He has done so since 2010 at the Gardner Institute where he was currently named as Chief Executive Officer.