"On July 1, Dr. Sandra Gray will become the new president of Asbury College, the Wilmore, Ky., liberal arts institution founded in 1890. Gray, former chair of the business and economics department at the college and current provost, received her Ph.D. in public administration from the University of Kentucky and is a native of Hardin County. Janet Holloway's entire conversation with Dr. Gray is available as a "BizCast" online at www.bizlex.com. The following was edited to accommodate space.
J.H.: Tell me about Asbury College.
S.G.: We have about 1,200 students. Our largest major is media communications. We have several hundred students, 300 or 400, in that major, and our next largest major is education. Business is actually the third or fourth largest major. So we are very much about preparing people to be involved in vocations. Also, we have students from 42 states and 18 countries and have been known historically as a very cosmopolitan institution. We are attracting people from around the world.
J.H.: You've been on the faculty for several years as a professor?
S.G.: I left a banking and finance career in Lexington to go to Asbury to teach. I have taught in the department of business and economics for 17 years, and have chaired the department for the past ten years.
J.H.: Was it a challenge to move from direct consumer contact to classroom teaching?
S.G.: I loved being involved with the business community, but it was natural to take that experience into the classroom. We have wonderful students. They are energetic, full of dreams and aspirations, forward-thinking.
J.H.: Are students today different from the way they were when you starting teaching?
S.G.: Absolutely. In fact, I used to think every decade they change; now I think it's every three or four years. In this information economy things are moving so quickly. It's not unusual for professors to look out over their class and wonder, "Why is something I did a few years ago not effective today?" Faculty have to keep reinventing themselves.
J.H.: How do you create that spirit of excitement and learning in the educational environment?
S.G.: It's a challenge; one thing I have learned is that there are those that want to be on the leading edge and want to lead change, then there are others that don't want change at all. So we try to create a safe environment, so all of the ideas can come forward. Creating a climate where it's a safe and comfortable place for the exchange of ideas is important.
J.H.: What will be your biggest challenge as you assume the role of president?
S.G.: Trying to set priorities and determine which goals to pursue. There are many things we would like to accomplish, but we can't do them all at once. There's a lot of energy on our campus, and we need to focus that energy on the larger picture. My goal is for people to become even more aware of who we are (and) recognize the work we are doing. I also want to increase local visibility. I want to identify those people who share the same values and dreams as we have and partner with us.
J.H.: How would you describe your particular leadership style?
S.G.: To work collaboratively — to tap into the resources and abilities of faculty, staff, the president's cabinet and work together. However, I know that the buck stops with the president, so it will be important for me to make the hard decisions.
J.H.: Have you had a mentor who's guided you over the years?
S.G.: I have been very blessed for people to have taken me under their wing. I had a supervisor who believed in me and was willing to push me out to grow. And then as I began my Ph.D. studies, I had a mentor who is herself a retired math teacher, who kept encouraging me and walked along with me in my early days. Frankly, my husband has been one of those persons who can be brutally honest but knows how to do it with love.
J. H.: Tell me about your spare time. What do you like to do?
S.G.: My husband and I are sailors. We love to sail and love spending time in the British Virgin Islands on a sailboat. I also love to read. I love music. I love to garden.
J. H.: What are you reading these days? Do you have favorite books, favorite authors?
S.G.: I took three books on a recent sailing trip but didn't make much progress. I enjoy watching the scenery. Sailing requires a lot of work! But in recent days I've been reading about the state of higher education. I also like to read for fun: mysteries, the Grisham books. Lately I've been reading business and leadership books, learning about building teams. I also enjoy reading books about faith, our spiritual heritage, and those things that can help me grow spiritually.
J.H.: When you were a young girl, Dr. Gray, did you know what you wanted to do when you grew up? Did you have a clear idea or calling?
S.G.: I thought I did. I can't say that is the path I've taken. I've always been one that could dream, even in rural Hardin County. I grew up in a very modest home of very modest means, but I dreamed of traveling the world. I took French in my early high school days, learned songs in French and dreamed of going to Paris. I did have ambitions and dreams, but the thing I've discovered is that if I stay open, opportunities would lead me to much more rewarding experiences than I had envisioned. I would not have dreamed, for example, of being president of a college.
J.H.: Tell me your thoughts about higher education today.
S.G.: We must be relevant, flexible, open to change. There are so many demographic changes taking place. We must be able to address these demographic changes. Funding is always an issue for higher education. Legislation as it impacts higher education is important.
J.H.: Are you meeting with Kentucky legislators to talk about Asbury College?
S.G.: I have not personally begun doing that yet, but we are thankful to have friends of higher education in the legislature. Kentucky does care about higher education, and frankly, one objective that I have would be working with other presidents and other leaders to help raise the educational level in the state.
J.H.: Do you find that students today are focused on getting a job immediately or do students think about continuing their education?
S.G.: They want to know what kind of job they can get and what kind of money they can make. Parents are also talking to us about what jobs their children might get. That's a big change. There's more stress now. Education is more costly. Parents and students need to be able to feel they can have some repayment for the investment they've made.
J.H.: Any advice for young people coming up today?
S.G.: I would encourage all college students to be [both] thoughtful and careful about choosing the future path they want to take. They have no clue of the opportunities that will come their way if they keep an open mind and have a thirst for knowledge. One thing I love to tell my students is while it's difficult to take risks, go into a field or job that stretches you. You won't be sorry.
J.H.: Thank you, Dr. Gray.
Note: Dr. Gray will present a program entitled The A"maze"ing Journey of Professional Business Women at the June 19th meeting of the Lexington Chapter of National Association of Women Business Owners. Members and guests of NAWBO may RSVP at www.lexnawbo.org.
Janet Holloway is president of j. holloway & associates and co-founder of Women Leading Kentucky, a foundation committed to creating opportunities for women to lead and learn. She can be reached at jhollow@womenleadingky.com.