Mary is an associate professor for the College of Education at the University of Findlay and a member of the Deans Compact Dissemination Committee
Describe your role/involvement with the Ohio Deans Compact.
I have been involved with the Ohio Deans Compact since 2017. I began as a hesitant, but excited participant, and I have evolved into an engaged and enthusiastic supporter of everything the Compact is doing. The different priorities of the Compact’s work have all enhanced my work and the work of my institution. The P20 Literacy Collaborative and the incentive grants have allowed me opportunities to grow and continually improve in my role as a faculty member at the University of Findlay, and our students (and their future students) benefit as a result. The impact is exponential.
How does your involvement with the Compact benefit you and/or your organization?
By applying concepts and practices I learn while attending Compact events, my courses have become richer and more rigorous. Every time I return to campus after having attended an Ohio Deans Compact convening, I adjust my professional practices. As a result of Compact funding, the resources we can provide our students have grown and improved. The Compact’s impact is visible and tangible.
Why is the work of the Compact important?
The work of the Compact is important because it leverages everything needed to bring about needed change in a system—clear leadership, excellent communication, content expertise, supported collaboration, organized and reliable networks, financial support, dedicated members, ongoing coaching and mentoring opportunities, as well as space to innovate and connect with a diverse group of thinkers, researchers, and education advocates. The leaders of the Compact are clear on the vision and organized with follow-through. If it is possible to make something happen, they make it happen.
What excites you most about working with the Compact and its members?
What excites me most about working with the Compact and its members is knowing that every time I interact with this organization, I am rewarded by gaining the energy of a great idea, the time to ponder a complicated issue, or the opportunity to meet another amazing human being like the ones I get to connect with in this space. The Ohio Deans Compact never lets me down.