About Mark Ankeny

To build community, Sara asked us to describe a little bit about where we work, where we are on the leadership journey and what we want to come from this before we meet. So, let me tell you a little about myself. I am the Dean of the College of Education at Pacific University. I've been on the leadership journey for quite awhile. My early training came as a spouse (married to Becky), parent (two daughters), elementary school teacher, graduate faculty member, volunteer leader within my church denomination, and various administrative roles within higher education.

I've found that leadership is quite contextual. People sometimes assume that the most difficult leadership jobs are ones that others may not consider as difficult. Sometimes the most difficult are roles that others don't even consider as leadership. Many years ago I had a job interview as a manager with an electric company. The job required the manager to lead teams of adults spread throughout Utah and Wyoming. What I do remember is the surprise I gave the interviewers when they asked me what was the most difficult challenge I had found as a leader. I told them that my biggest leadership challenge came when I was a fourth grade teacher with 34 students in my class. Keeping them on task all day long was far more of a challenge than keeping well-paid adult workers focused on the mission of the organization. Of course, leading intelligent adults towards common goals is important and often challenging. It's just that the leadership tools necessary to lead and motivate young children requires much more constant presence. The interviewers thought about my response (after they got themselves up off the floor from such an unusual answer) and agreed that the 4th grade teaching task was much more of a leadership challenge. Of course I didn't get the job; I was relieved since I would have had to commute from Oregon.

I'm at the stage in my journey where I have much confidence in my ability to lead faculty members (at least ones in education) to work together as a community towards common goals. However, I find I sometimes lack confidence in my ability to confront those who are actively working against the mission. Or put another way, I may still be stuck in the need for approval. From this text and our discussions I'm looking forward to deepening my ability to use a wide array of tools in the leadership toolbox. I know that I will be able to learn from each of you.

Mark

PS -- just so you know what I look like I'm adding a recent photo of myself and my granddaughter Abby taken last summer.