Lori Sundberg

I think just being committed to higher education - it changed my life dramatically, and I wanted to be a part of something like that for other students as well. It had a huge impact on me, and I was really grateful that I was able to be in higher ed and to be able to help other students achieve a higher ed degree. That personal transformation I experienced through education became the driving force behind my entire career, and it kept me focused on making that same life-changing opportunity accessible to others.

The advice I would have would be to learn all that you can and have an open mind. Higher education is a field where continuous learning isn't just encouraged, it's essential, and approaching it with openness allows you to grow in ways you might not expect.

I think the biggest challenges right now are just the societal upheaval that we're kind of facing with the growing political divide. I think that makes it a challenge because higher ed needs to be relevant and needs to provide a well-rounded education. And so I think there's a little bit of a struggle going on right now between maintaining that comprehensive educational mission while navigating an increasingly polarized environment.

Really being authentic and leading with my heart, as well as my mind. I've always tried to keep at the forefront of my decision-making: what is the right decision, regardless if it's the easiest decision. That commitment to doing what's right, even when it's difficult, has guided me throughout my career and continues to shape how I approach everything in my life.