'Walking Our Why': Dean's Executive Advisory Board Explores Purpose, Looks Ahead to the Next Chapter

In the book Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, there's a scene where Alice comes to a fork in the road and doesn't know which path to take. As she contemplates her next move, the Cheshire cat magically appears. When Alice asks him which way she should go, he grins mischievously and tells her it depends on where she wants to end up. When she says she doesn't know, he quips that, well then, any road will take her there.

"Direction matters. Purpose matters," College of Education and Health Professions Dean Kate Mamiseishvili reminded her 40-member Dean's Executive Advisory Board at the spring meeting last week.

The meeting's theme was "Walking Our Why," and board members came ready to reflect on their purpose and to take stock as the group heads into a fourth year.

Special guest Charles Robinson kicked the day off with an update on his "why": an unwavering commitment to the university's land-grant mission. The chancellor shared progress on his Reaching Higher vision, which focuses on student success, growing support for students across Arkansas and expanding the positive impact of the university's research.

Mamiseishvili shared updates of her own, giving board members the latest on the college's goals of advancing impactful research, providing transformative educational opportunities, cultivating meaningful partnerships and fostering a caring culture.

She emphasized that the most important purpose for all leaders on campus is students. She shared a compilation of her "Dean Kate Goes Back to Class" video series, which offered a fun opportunity to learn new skills from students in six departments across the college.

"This series reminded me of my 'why,'" she said. "These students are so ambitious. So passionate. This strengthened my commitment to our students, the biggest 'why' we have."

The meeting featured a panel of first-year faculty members who delved into the "why" behind their work, its broader impact and their future vision. Panelists included Miguel Garcia-Salas, assistant professor of communication sciences and disorders; Zach McKenna, assistant professor of exercise science; Daniel Sparks, assistant professor of higher education; and Jen Cowhy and Taylor Enoch-Stevens, assistant professors of educational leadership. They shared about how personal experiences — such as having a life-threatening chronic illness or a sister with spina bifida — motivated their research interests, allowing them to ultimately help many others.

A Q&A after the panel gave board members the opportunity to learn more about how their work will serve children across Arkansas, partnerships they're seeking for their research and more.

The second half of the meeting focused on the board's original foundational goals and looking ahead to the next chapter. Mamiseishvili and chair-elect Meredith N. Brunen facilitated a discussion on the evolving role of the board as it enters its next stage of maturity, framing its shared purpose and impact.

Mamiseishvili first expressed appreciation for the many contributions board members have already made, including strategic advice and partnership, introductions to people in their networks, service, advocacy, celebratory functions and philanthropy.

"The board has exceeded all my expectations," Mamiseishvili told the group, which is made up of influential health and education leaders. "It has been an amazing journey. I consider this board one of my proudest accomplishments."

Members met in small groups to reflect on what compelled them to say yes to serving on the board, what resonates most with them about the board's purpose, and what has been most meaningful about their service. They also discussed impactful contributions the board is uniquely positioned to make in the next three years.  

The board welcomed four new members at this spring's meeting. There was also a change in leadership: John L. Colbert, retired superintendent of Fayetteville Public Schools, concluded his term as chair, and Susan Patton, professor emerita and former executive director of the Eleanor Mann School of Nursing, assumed the role. Brunen was announced as the chair-elect. She is a senior consultant with Gonser Gerber LLP, providing advancement and leadership consulting services to higher education institutions, arts and cultural organizations, health care systems, K-12 schools, foundations and other mission-driven nonprofits.

The board will meet again in the fall semester.

About the College of Education and Health Professions: The College of Education and Health Professions' six departments prepare students for a wide range of careers in education and health, including teaching, nursing, counseling, educational leadership and policy, speech-language pathology, occupational therapy, public health, exercise science, and many more. The college has approximately 360 faculty and staff members, serves more than 6,000 students and supports over 20 research and service units. Guided by the WE CARE strategic plan, the college strives to advance impactful research that improves people's lives, increase transformative learning opportunities for its students, engage in meaningful partnerships across Arkansas and beyond, and embrace a culture of caring that empowers people to thrive in all aspects of life.