Women in the Higher Education C–Suite – Diverse Executive Profiles

LISA MEDNICK TAKAMI, ED.D. is a leadership consultant, writer, and higher education administrator. She currently serves as Special Project Director at North Orange Continuing Education, the noncredit educational provider of the North Orange County Community College District. Dr. Takami has profiled CEOs and senior leaders for the journal Women in Higher Education since 2014. She served as COO for a labor-management apprenticeship training institute during the pandemic and has held administrator and faculty positions at several two-year and four-year institutions. Dr. Takami is the author of American Mind, Japanese Mind; Cross-Cultural Reflections from East and West and Chief Diversity Officers in U.S. Higher Education: Impacting the Campus Climate for Diversity. Takami resides in Southern California with her husband, Masahiko. They have two adult children, Michael and Sarah.

About the Author xiii Foreword xv Acknowledgments xix Introduction 1 Dr. Lisa Mednick Takami 1 "I Represent Students in all States to Reach their Potential" 5 Interview with Dr. Mildred García, Chancellor, California State University System 2 "It Matters Who Is in the Room" 15 Interview with Dr. Linda Oubré, President Emeritus, Whittier College 3 "Leadership Is Really an Orientation Toward Action" 25 Interview with Dr. Dena P. Maloney, Retired Superintendent/President, El Camino Community College District 4 "I Had to Become More Proximal" 39 Interview with Dr. Katrice Albert, Vice President, Office of Institutional Diversity, University of Kentucky 5 "The Best Way to Move Forward is to be Absolutely Great at Your Job" 53 Interview with Dr. Jane Close Conoley, President, California State University, Long Beach 6 "Your Path isn't Necessarily a Straight Line" 67 Interview with Dr. Sandra Boham, President, Salish Kootenai Community College 7 "Running Through the Fire" 81 Interview with Dr. Judy K. Sakaki, President Emeritus, Sonoma State University 8 "The Wind of the Ancestors was at My Back" 95 Interview with Dr. Becky R. Petitt, Vice Chancellor for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion, University of California, San Diego 9 "Education is the Great Equalizer" 105 Interview with Dr. Erika Endrijonas, Superintendent/President, Santa Barbara Community College District 10 "The Pulse on What Matters" 121 Interview with Dr. Javaune Adams-Gaston, President, Norfolk State University 11 "You Need to Look Up" 133 Interview with Dr. Joanne Li, Chancellor, University of Nebraska at Omaha Appendix 147 Index 149