Interview with Millie Garcia President of AASCU

Today we’re meeting with the president of AASCU Millie Garcia.  Millie has been the president of multiple institutions and now finds herself in a role of leading leaders with the American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU).  While at it’s core AASCU is about the students, they work to help presidents and their teams to be as successful as possible.  Millie says the pandemic has brought about a sense of urgency and clarity to what students need.  Immediate concerns were helping staff and students to teach and learn online.  Another big thing presidents were eager to learn is how to have the tough conversations, such as racial inequality.

The crisis has brought people together, but Millie says we need to continue with the collaboration even after things return to normal.  Luckily, Millie says she sees leaders eager to work together because they know it’s the right thing.  It shouldn’t be about competition, it should be about collaboration to best serve your region.  Millie has mentored many people that have gone on to become presidents, and she always recommends they learn how to handle a crisis because it’s not about if a crisis will happen, it’s when.

When mentoring others Millie instills that collaboration is your biggest asset.  She says you have to know your team, build trust, set goals together, and hold each other accountable.  When a person can’t work together with others, Millie says they get three strikes, and then they’re out.  Millie welcomes constructive criticism because she says you have to hear where you’re not perfect in order to change and become better.

Millie has read many leadership books over the years, but one of her favorites is on servant leadership.  She reminds us that the job isn’t about accolades, it’s about serving people.  She recommends any leadership books about how to have deep discussions.  Furthermore, she says it’s imperative that we learn how to have these discussions and engage the community.

Millie welcomes anyone to email her at presg@aascu.org and she says if you’re interested in a future as a president to check out their Millennium Leadership Institute and all their professional development programs.

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