Dr. Whitney McDowell-Robinson serves as the Vice President for Student Development & Engagement and an adjunct professor in the College of Education at Brenau University in Georgia. Prior to this appointment, she worked for Tougaloo College in Mississippi; whereby, she held numerous roles including Vice President for Enrollment Management and Student Services. Dr. McDowell-Robinson earned her Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from Tougaloo College, a Master of Science degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Jackson State University, and her Doctor of Philosophy degree in Urban Higher Education also from Jackson State University.
Recently, in an exclusive interview with Higher Education Digest, Whitney shared her professional trajectory, the secret mantra behind her success, her biggest stress reliever, favorite non-academic books, future plans, pearls of wisdom, and much more. The following excerpts are taken from the interview.
Hi Whitney. Can you please tell us about your background and areas of expertise?
My background encompasses educational and career experiences in psychology/counseling and education; therefore, my areas of expertise are heavily focused in helping professions with youth and young adults.
What is your personal philosophy when it comes to student success? What do you love the most about your current role?
I believe that the cornerstone of student success is relationships – the work we do cannot be transactional. My philosophy is similar to being a football coach. I am here to help my team and students think through the plays and what the outcome may be as we strategically move from A to Z. But, at the same time, I am here to support and motivate from the sideline and let the team run their play; implement their ideas and programs; and then we debrief at the end.
I love my role because we are able to work with a variety of diverse students to retain and matriculate them but most importantly aid in their discovery of themselves. My team and I meet weekly to discover new and engaging ways to ensure our students are successful academically, socially, and emotionally.
What are some of the things you’re most excited about right now in higher education?
What I am most excited about right now in higher education is the priority placed on mental health – not only for students but for faculty and staff. I believe that higher education leaders and administrators who are prioritizing wellness on their campuses increase possibilities for retention and graduation rates among their students and decrease turnover in employees.
What, in your opinion, is the value and impact of post-secondary education?
Aside from the correlation that individuals with degrees attain higher paying positions with greater upward mobility and benefits, post-secondary education affords the freedom of career choice and transformative learning experiences.
You were recently recognized as one of The Top 50 Women Leaders of Atlanta for 2024. Our readers would love to know the secret mantra behind your success.
The secrets to my success are: 1) always learning and being open to learning – no one knows everything regardless of degrees or titles, 2) surrounding myself with professionals who are able to push me and mentor me to be the best version of myself, and 3) always making time to enjoy family and friends. I cannot be successful in my career if I do not intentionally identify ways to remain up to date with best practices in our field and recognize ways to decrease burnout.
Who is the one person you look up to and why?
Professionally, I look up to Dr. Beverly Wade Hogan – the first woman president of Tougaloo College. As I was navigating higher education, I could depend on her sound judgment around challenges I was facing, ways to traverse the politics of education, and how to not lose your voice – which are all vital as women of color. It is important to have women who have faced similar trajectories as sounding boards as we are often the first or only in places and spaces.
The meaning of leadership can change from one era to another. How would you define the meaning of leadership today?
I define leadership as servant leadership; all that we do as “leaders” should be for the good of the whole – not just ourselves. I continually look for ways to grow my team – not necessarily in quantity but quality by pushing them to engage in professional development monthly. True leaders equip their team to eventually move into their role one day. Through servant leadership, there is no “I” only “We” – utilizing each person’s strengths to enhance the team. Through my experiences with the Aspen Institute, I learned about an essential component of servant leadership – resonance. Resonance is a communication skill, a relational skill, a process that helps to build relationships; shifts culture towards connection, engagement, inclusion, and a sense of belonging; and helps people know that they matter. I use this as a method to measure that effective and efficient leadership is occurring.
What is your favorite non-academic book and why?
Tribe of Mentors: Short Life Advice from the Best in the World by Tim Ferriss and Affirmed: 365 Positive Thoughts and Actions to Start Your Day by Cheryl Polote-Williamson.
Both books are introspective and give me an opportunity to critically think through my day-to-day interactions but most importantly increase my awareness around intentional resonance.
What is your biggest stress reliever?
I love to travel! Whether domestically or internationally, having the opportunity to see new ways of life, experience different cultures, and gain an even greater appreciation for the world in which I live is phenomenal.
Where do you see yourself in the next 5 years?
I prefer to look beyond five years at this stage in my career. I would like to see myself serving as a president of a college/university in the next ten years.
Do you have any advice for women working in the higher education landscape?
Find a mentor! … and when the time comes, serve as a mentor for those who are coming up behind you. There is enough room for us all to succeed.