Anna Marie Buck

People often ask what drives me and what I attribute to my success, and the answer is simple: perseverance.

Coming from a low-income familial background where I had very limited resources, I spent years wrestling with a choice: would I let my reality define me, or would I turn it into the catalyst for my future? I chose to be a product of my future. My path was never easy, but those hard-won lessons gave me the strength to keep pushing when others would have quit. Now, when I look at my students, I don’t just see students—I see myself. I look them in the eye and tell them the truth: your circumstances are not your finish line. You have the power to be an overcomer. The journey ahead might be difficult, but you have the strength to navigate it, and I am here to help you get there

The best career advice I have ever received is a profound reminder of our own potential: If God places a dream on your heart, it is there for a reason.

I was once told that if you have a calling, it is because you have already been equipped with the talents necessary to fulfill it. That hit me hard. It means that success isn't about getting something you don't have—it’s about realizing that the talent, the drive, and the capacity were already placed within you at the start.

For me, this transformed how I see my work and my students. It shifted the question from 'Can I do this?' to 'Do I have the courage to acknowledge what I’m capable of?' It’s a message I pass on every day: you don’t need to go searching for your potential—you just need to stop doubting that it’s already there.

If I could offer one piece of advice to young women starting out, it would be this: discipline will carry you, but authenticity will define you. Do not let the fear of failure stop you from starting. We aren't meant to be perfect; we are meant to be courageous. Too often, we hold ourselves back, waiting for permission or perfection, when we should be embracing the messiness of growth. Never change who you are to fit into a space that wasn't built for your voice. When you lead with your authentic truth, you stop following the crowd and start creating your own path. That is true leadership.

We are currently facing a significant divide in student access, ranging from basic needs like transportation to the deeper, more complex issues of digital equity and academic belonging. Too many students from low-socioeconomic backgrounds feel they don't 'fit' in the college environment. That is exactly where our work becomes vital. This is an opportunity to change the narrative. By showing up with authenticity and validating their experiences, we can prove to these students that their potential is not defined by their starting point. We aren’t just teaching a curriculum; we are cultivating the resilience and character they need to thrive long after they leave our classrooms.

I define my leadership by two core values: Loyalty and Humility.

Loyalty is about relationship and integrity. It means honoring the mentors who open doors for you and prioritizing those connections over ego or titles.

Humility is about the courage to be a lifelong learner. I don't pretend to have all the answers. I believe that 'honoring failure' is the key to both leadership and teaching. If I expect my students to take risks, I have to be willing to show them my own failures. I believe we aren't here to be perfect; we are here to be authentic, to learn, inspire, and to help one another grow.