Karen McColley

I attribute my success to the wonderful foundation I received from my family growing up. My parents - my father was a doctor and my mother was very active in our Milford community - gave me the courage to be actively involved in the community from a young age. My husband of almost 50 years has been instrumental in my journey, even though we were raised very differently and it hasn't always been easy to work together. Learning to work well with someone who isn't always easy to work with has been an important part of my growth. One of the most important lessons my father taught me was that no one can intimidate you unless you choose to let them. He would say, 'use that noggin' and figure out how to handle situations calmly, looking ahead to see challenges on the horizon to prevent them if possible. This advice has helped me tremendously in all the business scenarios and community roles I've been in. I've also been blessed with diverse experiences across three different industries - education, business, and farming - which have all shaped who I am today. My family has always valued learning and intellect, and we even have a 'nerd salute' where we push up our glasses to remind each other to focus on our responsibilities. Throughout everything, including the devastating losses of my son, sister, and mother, and my recent Parkinson's diagnosis, I've learned to stay resilient and see challenges as opportunities for growth rather than setbacks.

The best career advice I ever received came from my father, and it's something that has guided me through countless challenging situations throughout my career. He told me that no one can intimidate you unless you choose to let them. He would say, 'use that noggin' - use your brain to figure out how to handle situations calmly. The key is to look ahead and see challenges on the horizon so you can prevent them before they escalate, but you have to be thinking miles ahead of what you're doing. This advice has been invaluable in all the business scenarios I've encountered, whether dealing with difficult people at Planning and Zoning meetings, navigating male-dominated environments like Boy Scouts where I was one of only five women among 250 people, or handling challenging classroom situations. I've learned that sometimes the best way to handle difficult interactions is simply to smile, say 'have a good day,' and let things go without letting them ruffle your feathers. Just because someone doesn't argue with you doesn't mean they agree with you, but maintaining your composure and dignity is what matters most. This approach has allowed me to stay focused on what I can control and remain confident in my abilities, no matter what situation I'm facing.

My advice to young women is to stand up for yourself, but do it in a supportive nature to those around you. I've seen too many women, especially in business, come into meetings with their feathers already ruffled before anyone has even said anything, and that immediately puts everyone on the defensive, leading to unproductive conflict. Don't assume people are against you or cookie-cutter them based on how they're dressed or what industry they're in - I've worked in three completely different industries throughout my life, so I know firsthand that people are far more complex than stereotypes suggest. Be hungry for knowledge and always ask 'why.' Understanding the reasoning behind things is essential, and you shouldn't make assumptions - instead, seek clarity through learning and curiosity. Don't be afraid of failure. I teach my students that failure just means 'first attempt in learning,' and it's not negative at all. You actually learn more effectively after you've failed at something because it makes you more attentive to the details and helps you focus. I've learned that you can't let anyone make you feel less than they are unless you choose to let them. When I walked into my first Boy Scout camping trip and discovered I was one of only five women among over 250 people, I could have been intimidated, but instead I showed them I knew how to swing an axe and handle challenges just like anyone else. Even when I fell in a mud puddle, I refused special treatment and stayed the course. Live life passionately, but as responsibly as you can. Stay hungry to learn as much as you can, but make sure what you're learning connects to something you're already doing - otherwise you'll give yourself so much diversity that you can't get anything done and you'll look like the Tasmanian devil spinning around without accomplishing much.

One of the biggest challenges I see in higher education today is helping students overcome their fear of failure and actually apply what they learn. I see so many awesome women in my classes who read extensively about being successful in business or whatever their goal is, but they're afraid to apply it. They're afraid of failure, which is why I make it a point to teach them that failure just means 'first attempt in learning' - it's not negative, it's actually when you learn most effectively because it makes you more attentive to details. Math anxiety is particularly prevalent, and I address it head-on in every course using resources like Jo Boaler's videos to help students understand that their brains are capable of far more than they think. I've had high school girls tell me 'I can't do this, it's for boys, I'm a girl,' and I have to show them that the majority of math teachers in the hallway are actually women. Another challenge is the misconception that college is too expensive and not worth it anymore. People don't realize that you can get a master's degree at Wilmington University for just $11,000 if you're smart about time management and money management. Going to college doesn't guarantee success, but it gives you a big hand up and opens doors for you. The opportunity I see is in teaching students not just content, but critical thinking skills, time management, and the confidence to understand the 'why' behind what they're learning so they can apply it to their real lives, whether they're traditional students or adults who haven't been in a classroom for 20 years, or even military members taking classes from other countries.

The values most important to me are respect, empathy, compassion, diversity, inclusivity, family, resiliency, and giving back to my community. These principles guide all my interactions and decisions, and I strive to create a positive impact wherever I serve. Family is absolutely central to everything I do - I've been blessed with almost 50 years of marriage, and even though my husband and I were raised very differently and it hasn't always been easy, we've built a beautiful life together. Our four children have always been a priority, and we made sure they never heard 'I'm bored' because we involved them in everything we did, from our farming operation to restoring Sunnybrae Mansion. The entire family contributed to that restoration project, and we spend quality time together there. After losing our son Will to glioblastoma brain cancer, along with my sister and mother in close succession, family has become even more precious. We built Will's Pavilion at Sunnybrae in his memory because he loved to have a good time. Community service has been a constant throughout my life - I've served as a Boy Scout Assistant Scoutmaster and Girl Scout leader, helping to mentor and inspire young people. I've volunteered extensively on boards like Planning and Zoning and Downtown Milford Incorporated, and participated in numerous community enrichment events. I was honored to be crowned Mrs. Delaware International in 2001 with a platform focused on the integrity of our youth, because I believe if you want a good future and a good legacy, you have to start when children are younger - you can't wait until they're adults. Through all of these efforts, I try to lead by example and make a lasting difference in the lives of others, treating everyone with dignity and respect regardless of their background or circumstances.