Her Story
About Vicky
Vicky Ferguson serves as Chief of Staff, a position she has held for three years. With a quarter-century of experience in higher education, she has worked across student services, taught courses, served as an academic dean, and spent six years as an executive assistant before advancing to her current role. Her career spans two-year and four-year institutions, both public and private. Ferguson earned a bachelor's degree in Family Science, encompassing consumer science, home economics, and child development, followed by a master's degree in counseling. She was nominated by her CEO for a state governor's executive development program through the University of Texas, which she completed a year and a half ago. Her expertise centers on aligning initiatives, bringing the right people together, and managing follow-ups and next steps to drive objectives forward. She attributes her professional success to the work ethic and integrity modeled by her father.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Vicky
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to my dad. He had me late in life and modeled getting up together, spending time starting the day, working hard, and dedication. We would drink coffee together starting in fourth grade and have good conversations. He worked all the way till he was 82.
02What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
It's a great field with collegiality and continual learning. People are inspiring and teach you something new. The rewards are different - you make more money outside higher education but get different rewards inside like watching students grow from hesitant to well-rounded and knowledgeable.
03What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
Higher education is under fire with ideology, AI challenges in teaching writing and critical thinking, and the shift away from DEI principles. Opportunities include getting ahead of the AI curve, incorporating it to teach new skills, and supporting public education changes so graduates have job-ready skills.
04What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Honesty and integrity are most important. Bosses I've enjoyed have high integrity, take positions seriously, have great credibility because of how they operate. My father had great integrity as well.
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