Interview with Valerie Nichols, November 13, 2020

Valerie: alright, that's a long story, uh. Education is important to me because it is often the ticket to change somebody else's life, so my role, that I feel like is important, is to be an encourager, to show opportunity, and to help stay the course. It's a long journey for a lot of people. It's often one that, if they're first generation, they have not considered before. It seemed like it was an opportunity that was not for them, and it always seemed like it was for people who were from a very well-educated or affluent family. And so, changing that mindset, but, it is so powerful and often changes families' history. How I got here is through a series of different positions within higher education from... advising has probably always been the bedrock of what I've done, but I've worked with a variety of ages from students traditional-aged all the way through people who are retired, and it's just one of those things they, it sat on their shoulder and it was unfinished business and so they wanted to complete that, but advising, registrar, admissions, the whole, all those things, um, developing curriculum, teaching, all of those things. But, my absolute favorite is the one-on-one with students and seeing the light come on.

Hannah: That's great, um, and I actually chose to interview you, and I've chosen to kind of formulate this entire project around admissions in higher education, and for another one of my classes, I'm working on the communication of emotions in higher education admissions, specifically military recruitment. Um, and I really think that your role and the role of career advisor or in the career development role would really suit me because I think I have the same passion for, well you know, I've seen the ticket that education has given me and how much it's changed my life just in the past few years, and how much it feels like liberation, so, um, it's comforting to know that there are other people out there with that same kind of mentality and that there's a role out there that would allow me to kind of, to pursue those passions.

Valerie: Absolutely

Hannah: Um, so I know that you, with your students, you do a lot of work around leadership and leadership styles. Uh, do you find that you have a certain leadership style, and does it help you perform in your position and achieve your professional goals?

Valerie: Probably, I would say, mine is more collaborative. I like being part of a team. It's incredibly energizing to take an idea with a group of people and to take it to the next level, so that really motivates me. As far as with students go, I think it's when you come along side of a student and you work with them where they're at but show them where they could be, that's very powerful. So that's probably fits me the best.

Hannah: We've studied a few different leadership styles, um, and I think that that one is called transformational leadership, when you're um, working with someone, coaching someone, and you inspire them to transform their own lives. So, I certainly appreciate the work that you've done with me and leading me in that way. Um, what experiences in your life have shaped your leadership style, if any?

Valerie: I would say, it's been interesting to work in different educational settings from faith-based to not faith-based to even a design institution so that the students were different, and that institution was based on the atelier model, so they actually worked the whole time they were in school, um, and that's more European than it is in the US, so that was fascinating. I think all of those different kind of positions that I've held and within different institutions have showed me that students are students, the needs are still the same, and it's knowing that there is somebody that they can turn to. So often higher education pushes research on faculty, um, to the detriment sometimes of helping the student to succeed.

Hannah: Great, um, I think that leads nicely into this next question. Do you think that someone in a role such as yours needs to have certain characteristics to be successful or even happy in your position?

Valerie: Yes, uh, (laughs), you know, education can sometimes move slowly. So ,patience is one of those. Also remembering why you're there, that it's not necessarily for yourself or personal gain, it's more to see other people grow, and that should be where your energy comes from. And it's, you know, I have a file folder of notes from students from the past and things that have been meaningful to me. You know, everybody has those rough days where it's not going the way it should, you get frustrated, but you pull those out and you think, "Ok, I can do this. We're just going to keep on going ahead to see what you can do to make it better for somebody else."

Hannah: I know that you've witnessed a couple of my rough days, so I certainly appreciate that sentiment. Um, let's see. Who do you draw inspiration from, and are there any influential leaders in your own life that inform your leadership style?

Valerie: I think that as you go through life there are always those people that become powerful examples. Um, and I think that you have to watch for that. It's easy to focus on the negative and get so overwhelmed by what is not going well that you kind of miss that. So, I would say that there have been critical people at each institution that I've worked in, and you draw your energy from working with those people. Um, so, I would say, and it stated when I was in college, I had an advisor who -- my degree was in education -- and she was just this quiet, calm person who was very steadfast and believed that you could do anything. And I think it started at that moment, and then each place that I've worked, I've kind of just, and it's mostly on an unconscious level, you seek out people who have different roles that have kind of that same mission that you do that kind of keep you going.

Hannah: Yeah, that's excellent. Um, and I have one more question, we're going to wrap up a little early, I hope that's ok.

Valerie: That's fine.

Hannah: Ok, leaders help to turn ideas into action and empower others -- and this is kind of what we were speaking about with transformational leadership -- how do you accomplish this, turning ideas into action and empowering others?

Valerie: Ok, I think it starts with the student. Uh, as you, you have to listen. And not tell them what way to go, but as you start to talk to them about, well, how do you see yourself, what would be your dream job, what are the things that you like to do best? And the most exciting thing, is when a student takes a class that they thought, "mm, I really don't want to do this class," but then they come back, "I never thought I would like this." And then you start talking about what are the connections between that class and another class, and how does that impact your future? And you just start building those, those blocks from now to the future, so students start to see, "oh my gosh, this is possible." And I've seen students, and when they start talking about those kinds of things, they get goosebumps, they get so excited, eyes light up, I get goosebumps. I've had students cry because they're so excited, um, to the point where they start to see the dream coming true. And I've walked students down to the Curb Event Center, and I've showed them the stage where they're going to walk across and graduate, and tears just start flowing because they say, "this has never happened in my family before." So, those are powerful moments, and it's, you know, you just start building. It's almost like taking Legos, you add one at a time, um, so that you can eventually see that you're building something, and it's something that's going to change you and your family.

Hannah: I imagine that those moments keep you doing what you're doing.

Valerie: Absolutely.

Hannah: And keep you motivated to continue. It's interesting that you said that education is slow and so it takes patience, um, I think that that is something that I lacked, and what kept me from, uh, really sticking with it. But what I've realized is that it's the little moments of engagement that I have, the little moments of triumph that I have that really, kind of, reinforce my patience and let me see the long run and let me see the end goal, um, and that's what keeps me doing it. So, it's been a really powerful experience, so I'm glad we share that.

Valerie: Yeah, I am, too, because you've done amazingly well. And the confidence level today compared to the first day you came in my office is amazing.

Hannah: Thank you.