“I would say that my most important contribution in higher education is demonstrating what women’s leadership can accomplish,” said Cedar Crest College’s President Elizabeth M. Meade in an interview with IngenioUs–a podcast dedicated to exploring the ideas and leadership shaping higher education.
As higher education navigates shifting societal and governmental landscapes, strong, compassionate leadership has never been more crucial. In her interview, President Meade offered a candid and insightful perspective on what it takes to lead a college through change.
She reflected on her journey at Cedar Crest, from her early days as a philosophy professor to her tenure as president of the institution. A proponent of Design Thinking, Meade has championed several transformative initiatives, including Laptops for Learners–a program dedicated to closing the digital divide–and The Elaine and John Harmon Center for Leadership in Technology, which will launch the College’s computer science, cybersecurity, and data science majors.
Meade also discussed a previous enrollment challenge–an issue many institutions across the United States face today. She approaches obstacles with strategy and resilience, emphasizing that, “We can’t be afraid to keep going, to change, and to learn. The big driver of growth in me has been my willingness to pick myself up from setback and failure.”
As more women’s colleges close their doors, Meade is committed to ensuring Cedar Crest remains a testament to their enduring importance. “The world is a better place when women are at the table making decisions,” she says, “We need women at every table where every decision is being made, and they’re still not present at equitable levels. I want Cedar Crest to be able to show what we bring to the world when we put women in positions of leadership and influence.”
Sharing a philosophy that has guided her since her days as a professor, Meade adds, “If you want change to happen, you have to be willing to lead the change.” Those words remain as relevant today as they were when she first stepped into the presidency eight years ago.
Reflecting on the conversation, she said, “I really enjoyed my conversation with IngenioUs. I welcome any opportunity to speak about the power of women’s leadership and the incredible things happening at Cedar Crest.”
You can listen to President Meade’s full interview with IngenioUs here.