In this week's episode, guest expert Kimberly Lee, Vice President for Institutional Effectiveness with Albany Technical College in Georgia, joins us to talk about leadership within community colleges, her efforts to bring women's networks together in Georgia, and the importance of leadership affinity networks like A.C.E's Women's Network. We wrap up with our best tips and advice for joining a leadership affinity group and at the end we'll have an assignment for our listeners- we'll ask you to find your local state chapter of the ACE women's network and see what they are up to and share your story with us on Instagram, Twitter, or Facebook and tag us @university_of_venus on IG and @UVenus on Twitter or post it on our Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/UVenus/ and we will share, retweet, and amplify! Find University of Venus on Instagram @university_of_venus , Twitter @UVenus , and Facebook http://www.facebook.com/UVenus/
Topics Discussed in this Episode:
Resources Discussed in this Episode:
Music Credits: Magic by Six Umbrellas
Sound Engineer: Ernesto Valencia
View from Venus, Season 2, Episode 4
Mary Churchill: [00:00:00] Hello everyone and welcome to this week's episode of the View from Venus. My name is Mary Churchill, and on today's episode, I am joined by cohosts, Meg Palladino and Leanne Doherty and guest expert, Kimberly Lee, Vice President for Institutional Effectiveness with Albany Technical College in Georgia.
[00:00:24] In today's episode, we'll be talking with Kimberly about leadership within community colleges, her efforts to bring women's networks together in Georgia, and the importance of leadership affinity networks like A.C.E's Women's Network. You will walk away with our best tips and advice for considering the role that a leadership affinity group might play in your life.
[00:00:45] And as always, at the end of the episode, we'll have a recommended assignment for you. Kimberly Lee is the Vice President for Institutional Effectiveness with Albany Technical College in Georgia. Dr. Lee has over 20 years of experience in leadership roles that emphasize program development, program evaluation and services for traditional and post-traditional learners within higher education and adult education communities.
[00:01:11] Recognized for her service commitment to post-traditional learners. Dr. Lee serves as a member of the Education Attainment and Innovation Commission within the American Council on Education. Additionally, she serves as the Vice President for Programs for the Georgia Association of Women in Higher Education.
[00:01:30] We asked Kimberly to join us on View from Venus because we wanted to hear more about her leadership work in higher education and the important role that leadership affinity groups have played in her professional life.
[00:01:41] Kim, it's wonderful to have you here. Thank you for joining us on season two of View from Venus.
[00:01:47] Kimberly Lee: [00:01:47] Thank you. I'm delighted to be here, Mary. This has an exciting opportunity and the topic that we're going to talk about is near and dear to my heart. I'm looking forward to the conversation.
[00:01:57] Mary Churchill: [00:01:57] Excellent. Well, Meg is going to start us off.
[00:02:00] Meg Palladino: [00:02:00] Yeah. So, before we get into the heart of things, I'd like to know what is your most used emoji?
[00:02:05] Kimberly Lee: [00:02:05] Ooh, that's a very good one. Probably the most used one would be the smiley face, but of course, I've also used the hands praying because oftentimes you need to have a lot of prayer in this world or in just your daily life. Things just happen. But the smiley face and the one that's crying laughter, like really rolling over on the floor because something is just absolutely hilarious. That's probably one of my favorite ones.
[00:02:36] Mary Churchill: [00:02:36] I like that. Leanne, I'm dying to know yours.
[00:02:40] Leanne Doherty: [00:02:40] Oh, mine's the one that looks like me, where it's like, you know, I know that's not really good for a podcast, but the one that's like super sarcastic and half smile, but just like, again, I think I too enjoy humor. I think I'm very funny. And therefore, I assume others when I'm texting with them find me funny too. But yeah, cause everything a little bit. The world of a political scientist right now is a bit on the
[00:03:07] Kimberly Lee: [00:03:07] Yeah, a whole lot of funny faces.
[00:03:15] Leanne Doherty: [00:03:15] And other emojis as well that are not probably useful for this discussion.
[00:03:21] Mary Churchill: [00:03:21] Meg?
[00:03:22] Meg Palladino: [00:03:22] Usually when I text, I try to use as many emojis as possible and as few actual words just to, you know, test people and practice my hieroglyphics. But probably my most used one is that sort of crazy face where like one eye's closed and the tongue is sticking out and it's sort of askew a little bit.
[00:03:39] Mary Churchill: [00:03:39] I love that one. Mine is the wink. Mine is the sarcasm but also the two hands up. I love that one. Or you know, like cheering. Yay. Go girl. That is my, my favorite one. And I have a 14-year-old about to be 15-year-old. So, we communicate quite a bit with emojis. I also like the namaste
[00:04:11] Leanne Doherty: [00:04:11] I send that one to my 12-year-old all the time. Yeah. I'm just like, just stay strong, dude. We got this.
[00:04:19] Mary Churchill: [00:04:19] Zen out. You can do this.
[00:04:22] So Kim, you have spent much of your career in higher ed within the community college space, which I love. As many of us know that leadership in this space is currently more diverse with more women and more people of color in leadership roles than in other institutional types, like four-year doctoral publics and privates. What are some of the opportunities and challenges for women working in this space? And do you think these are different for women and women of color?
[00:04:49] Kimberly Lee: [00:04:49] So, in the community college space, you're absolutely correct, the equity data does look different and better.
[00:04:56] However, there's still much room for improvement, particularly when we think about the C suite as well as representation on board of trustees. So, there are still yet opportunity in this space for women. And, in particular, women of color. In terms of representation, we look pretty much like the rest of the world and not necessarily the world, but the work environment with regard to equity.
[00:05:22] So there's yet opportunity for us to continue to work on that equity agenda. That's definitely the number one opportunity. Another opportunity in this space is, you know, women, those of us who serve in leadership roles, I see that more as a call to service, right? Because there are other women that might be new to this space that are open to mentoring or coaching to assist them to transition into the space as well as have opportunity for upward mobility. So, opportunities still yet await in this space with regards to getting more women in leadership roles as well as more women and women of color in particular, also represented on our board of trustees or boards. So that's what I see as the two primary opportunities.
[00:06:16] We look better, in terms of our data, but we're not there yet.
[00:06:21] Mary Churchill: [00:06:21] You're not there yet.
[00:06:22] Kimberly Lee: [00:06:22] We're not there yet. So, when we think about it, we may see more women and women of color at the dean level or as faculty chairs. But when you really begin to go up to the C-suite and you begin-- around that table where the decision making is about what kind of academic programs you're going to offer, what your tuition rate will be, what your student support will be. When those decisions are made, there's still disparate numbers with regard to women and women of color at that table where the real decisions are made. So, we can ill afford, if you will, to wait on someone external to us, right?
[00:07:00] To promote the agenda unapologetically, to promote it intentionally. for us to actually realize equity in the higher education community college space or higher education overall, as a matter of fact,
[00:07:14] What we know in higher education is that the college going rate, the retention rate, the college completion rates, graduation rate, women outnumber men with those data, and so the onus is on us.
[00:07:28] We owe it to, not only these women, but to the men also for us to have an unapologetic intentional commitment to equity at this level because ultimately when the research is out there and we know that when the equity agenda is promoted and when we try to realize the equity agenda, that it ultimately proves beneficial for all those served and all those involved.
[00:07:55] Mary Churchill: [00:07:55] I think that often folks don't think about working in community colleges and they don't understand that while, I think financially it can be a challenging space. You know, you're trying to do more with very few resources. The opportunities for engagement and leadership and really taking on some amazing work that has direct impact on a daily basis is unparalleled in the higher ed space.
[00:08:23] Kimberly Lee: [00:08:23] Absolutely. And I've not spent any time at the university level, so you're absolutely correct that the opportunity to really be impactful in terms of one's life is you can actually see it happening in terms of working with the students. Even if you're in administration, you have more opportunity, I think, to engage with students and to have a direct impact with regard to workforce development in the not too distant or immediate future
[00:08:51] Mary Churchill: [00:08:51] And some of the most vulnerable students in our systems, right? I mean, this is life changing. I was at an event this week, Pam Edinger is the president of Bunker Hill Community College, which is the largest in the Massachusetts system, and these are amazing changes in people's lives that higher ed provides. And while that happens in the rest of the institutions too, we don't see it with every single one of our students, and we often don't know about it, right? There are stories that we don't know how vulnerable their backgrounds are.
[00:09:24] They will often hide it from us. So, I do think that's an opportunity if people are in higher ed because they want to make a difference and have an impact. I feel like community colleges are a great space to do that.
[00:09:35] Kimberly Lee: [00:09:35] You are absolutely correct with regard to the community college space. There's an opportunity for you to engage with students and to see the direct impact of your work with regard to improving their quality of life.
[00:09:49] Leanne Doherty: [00:09:49] Kim, just to switch gears a little bit, we wanted to ask you more in depth about your opportunity when you connected women in the technical college system with George's ACE women's network, which ended up being the Georgia Association of Women in Higher Ed. What was the intention of that collaboration and what did you learn? What were your key takeaways from that event?
[00:10:11] Kimberly Lee: [00:10:11] Great. You know higher ed can be lonely at times. You know, this work is by far not for the faint of heart. You know, when we think about our role, workforce development or developing and nurturing critical thinking, civil engagement, molding and developing minds, we have to be intentional about creating a safe space for like-minded women to network and to engage. Oftentimes you might think that there's no one else out there. You may have someone that you aspire to be like, but you don't know that they exist across the state. So at least with the Georgia Association of Women in Higher Education, when we convene, it gives, it reaffirms for some women, the idea that whatever they are aspiring to do in this space, there's an opportunity to do it. I will say that the Georgia Association of Women in Higher Education has been around for quite some time, but the membership representation, it's primarily with the university system of Georgia as well as our independent colleges and universities in the state. And I've worked in, Mary is absolutely correct, most of my work was on the adult education side at the state level. But when I did encounter the organization. I wanted to make sure that more women within the technical college system of Georgia knew about this opportunity for women, and I wanted to engage more or get more representation or broader representation of women within the technical college system of Georgia, the university system of Georgia, as well as continue with the independent colleges and universities because it gives an opportunity for women to network, to support and uplift each other, to affirm and reaffirm that we're in the right space, doing the right things for the all the right reasons. So, an opportunity for women to be empowered. And again, I want to reiterate the fact that we wanted an opportunity to create a safe space for women, for us to address some of the challenges that we have in higher education as well as, more importantly to address, the student success agenda that I think we all share.
[00:12:17] Meg Palladino: [00:12:17] Fantastic. Can you tell us more about how affinity groups like the ACE women's network have made a difference in your career and, you know, help us convince our listeners to get involved with their state networks or similar groups for our listeners who are outside of the U S?
[00:12:31] Kimberly Lee: [00:12:31] So GAWE is great and ACE is an added layer. It allows me, personally, to live my truth unapologetically. Of course, I have professional aspirations and what ACE does, it broadens the scope. So not only women in the state of Georgia, but women across this country and internationally. Women who might be, who have even stepped up to the plate and served as a coach or a mentor through the ACE women's network.
[00:13:04] And so I think that once women know what resources are out there and available to them through their state networks and through the work that the ACE women's network moving the needle initiative, I think more women will get involved with their state networks. Opportunities. I know even with the GAWE conferences, we provided more opportunities for women to present their research, to talk about student success and the work that they're doing with regard to retention of students as well as completion and graduation of students.
[00:13:38] So that's an opportunity as well. But the ACE is an added layer that gives me professionally the opportunity to live my truth unapologetically. Like I said, I do have aspirations and I'm networking with women across the country. Mary, as one, to help me make a transition or to learn, to grow in place, as well as learn more about what opportunities are out there for me to grow externally as well.
[00:14:07] Meg Palladino: [00:14:07] I love the phrase, live my truth unapologetically.
[00:14:10] Mary Churchill: [00:14:10] I know
[00:14:10] Meg Palladino: [00:14:10] I need to figure out how to do that, whatever it is. You make me feel like I'm lost, and you have this path that you articulate so clearly.
[00:14:19] Kimberly Lee: [00:14:19] Well, you know, we're in this work and it's both selfless and to some degree, selfish. I mean, it's not all, you know, you have altruistic reasons for being involved, but we shouldn't be, we shouldn't apologize for wanting more, right? Or having a desire to lead at a greater level.
[00:14:41] Meg Palladino: [00:14:41] I want it all.
[00:14:42] Kimberly Lee: [00:14:42] So, yeah. So, with the ACE network, it allows me to live my truth unapologetically then. And the same is true through GAWE. It allows me to expand my network, to meet more women and women who have blazed paths, those women who have persevered, right? Yeah. Women who have persevered and still are persevering in their respective workspaces and providing opportunity and willing to say, listen, I'll take your hand and I'll show you or here's something that you might need to consider with regard to your curriculum vitae.
[00:15:20] If you're preparing for an interview, here are some questions that might be asked. You might need to be prepared. So, it gives you that opportunity. And then for those women who have the desire, I think leadership is great at all levels and you want to grow in place that is excellent as worthy of engagement because what it gives you an opportunity to do women within your same discipline can do the same mentoring and coaching as would be if you're interested in upward mobility in the community college space.
[00:15:52] Mary Churchill: [00:15:52] Yeah, no, I mean, I think that there's so many things you just said that are fantastic. I mean, just the way you've said it, Kim, it's kind of amazing and you've just reminded me that really, one of the things that we really want to focus on when we send this out to our listeners is there are affinity groups for women at all levels, but there's something when you are on the leadership track at whatever level, and you have leadership desires, it's a different kind of affinity group that you're looking for.
[00:16:25] And as I wrap up, I want to have people share takeaways related to that, like why are affinity groups -leadership focused affinity groups like ACE women's network, important? And for me, I think that you said several things, but they're inspirational, right? Every time I gather with these groups, I am inspired to do the work that is really student-centered, right?
[00:16:54] It is a leadership piece, but our purpose is really to make the world a better place for the future, but to really be student-success focused. And I come back to that shared mission that we have across institution types, and it's inspiring and so I go there for a well of inspiration, that that is my big takeaway and you've reminded me of that again.
[00:17:18] Kimberly Lee: [00:17:18] Yes, absolutely. I have to echo what you're saying, Mary, because it's. It reignites it. It's affirming, I'll put it that way. And reaffirming that you're in the right space doing the right thing for the right reasons. Yes, our primary focus is student success, and we are interested in ensuring that tomorrow is much better than today in the lives of individuals in it, even in our lives individually and personally.
[00:17:46] So to engage with women at these statewide and national meetings and connect with them even outside of that, maybe in smaller groups really helps to reaffirm that you're in the right space doing the right thing and getting the support that you need because sometimes you just need a safe space to vent.
[00:18:10] Sometimes you need a safe space to share your ideas. What do you think about x, y, z? When you know you're going to get that support from another woman. So, I don't know. I know that it has contributed significantly to my continued sanity, right? To having that space in terms of having a place to go with ideas or a place to go to vent because sometimes, like I said, this space, it gets lonely and the work that we have to do, the worthy work that we are engaged in doing really is not for the faint of heart. It's for those who have heart and want to see a better life for those who are trying to enter the workplace or to grow their minds or to grow their knowledge.
[00:18:59] So I think that the leadership affinity groups with regard to helping you get to the next level are very important and can help you maintain even where you are.
[00:19:11] Mary Churchill: [00:19:11] Excellent. Leanne, do you have takeaways?
[00:19:13] Leanne Doherty: [00:19:13] Yeah, just briefly, I've, I've been struck by the connections I have when things don't go your way. You know, for me, the trajectory is not been as a straight and narrow. And you know, we're taking a little side detour right now and the like. And so, to just talk to folks to say there is no one correct path has been helpful as well. Mary and I have often talked about how we've never had a correct path anyway, so for whatever that's worth, but it is nice to have that, you know, sometimes things don't go the way you want them to. Sometimes you don't get that promotion, you don't get that job. You have to recalibrate. And it is nice to know that that has happened to probably everybody in some way, right? And again, it's that safe space of not only successes, but of failures so that you do it again, right? Like having a team to help you along in the process and know there'll be another day.
[00:20:14] Kimberly Lee: [00:20:14] Right.
[00:20:15] Mary Churchill: [00:20:15] And women's trajectories are much less linear than men's. I mean, we were doing caretaking at both ends, usually, of the life cycle. And we are in and out, up and down, intense and pulling back. That is just so much more common for women. Meg, what about you?
[00:20:33] Meg Palladino: [00:20:33] I'm still thinking about living my truth on apologetically, to be honest. I'm thinking about what that means to me.
[00:20:40] Mary Churchill: [00:20:40] It's very powerful.
[00:20:42]Meg Palladino: [00:20:42] It is. It is. I got stuck on that and I think I'm going to write it on a piece of paper and stick it on my wall.
[00:20:48] Kimberly Lee: [00:20:48] Excellent.
[00:20:50] Mary Churchill: [00:20:50] Well, thank you so much, Kim, this was fantastic. Okay, listeners, here's this week's assignment. If you are in the United States, find your local state chapter of the ACE women's network and see what they are up to.
[00:21:02] If you are outside the U S look into affinity groups in your area, share your story with us on IG, Twitter, or Facebook, and tag us @UVenus and we'll retweet, share in our story and post on Facebook. As always, thank you for joining us and we'll be back next week with Jessie Daniels talking about advancing racial literacy on campus.