With nearly 25 years of experience leading in higher education, Timothy Stokes lives by the mantra, “Show up, pay attention, and tell the truth.”
The present-day South Puget Sound Community College president, who holds a doctorate in education, has been serving in his role since 2013. On a day-to-day basis, Stokes is responsible for policy development, board governance, resource allocation, fundraising, and political and community advocacy.
On top of his daily responsibilities, Stokes said he finds reward in creating meaningful changes within his institution that help students move toward graduation. In an interview with South Sound Business, he said that he wishes everyone knew of the support systems offered through the school (such as child care, funding, transportation, basic needs, and more) that are designed to aid students while completing their education.
“Community colleges are our best hope for a more equitable and just society,” Stokes said. “We should all support them, be it in big or small ways.” When it comes to what he would impart on the incoming cohort of higher-education leaders, Stokes offered the following suggestions.
- The work is about economic equity and social justice.
- Being a leader in higher education is political and strategic.
- The work has to center students and meet them where they are at on their academic journey, not where we wish they were.
- Leadership requires being willing to take risks to improve outdated and inequitable systems.
- Higher education has to become more flexible to survive as society becomes more technologically advanced and as more and more options become available for acquiring skills and credentials.