The Mission-Driven President: Navigating Challenges with Purpose and Courage

2026 will demand courage — not comfort.

Dr. Mordecai was honored to contribute to Courageous Leadership: The Power of Brave Hearts and Bold Action to Spark Change in Higher Education, a national collection of presidents and change-makers telling the truth about what leadership requires in this moment.

In his chapter, “The Mission-Driven President,” he shares how they’ve aligned systems, strategy, and culture at the Community College of Aurora so every decision serves students and economic mobility.

The power is not in the person.
The power is in the mission.

You can read the chapter here: https://www.campusworksinc.com/the-mission-driven-college-president/

Brand New Article From Dr. Mordecai

New article now live in Community College Daily: Preparing Colleges for What Comes Next.

2025 pushed community colleges into one of the most transformative years in modern history. From federal policy shifts to financial aid disruptions and increasing expectations from learners and employers, our sector has been called to lead with clarity, courage, and intentionality.

In this article, Dr. Mordecai outlines what presidents, trustees, faculty, and leaders must focus on as we enter 2026:

• Mission-centered innovation

• Integrated pathways that drive economic mobility

• Workforce alignment as a national imperative

• Systems that turn disruption into long-term resilience

This moment demands alignment, strategy, and bold leadership across our institutions.

Read the full article here: https://www.ccdaily.com/2025/12/preparing-community-colleges-for-what-comes-next/

Brand New Article From Dr. Mordecai!

The future of higher education is shifting — quickly.

Dr. Mordecai’s latest article in Community College Daily explores why America is entering the era of the Workforce Campus and what leaders must do to meet this moment of transformation.

👇 Read the full article

https://www.ccdaily.com/2025/11/from-work-colleges-to-workforce-campuses/

Let’s keep leading with purpose.

Dr. Mordecai is Now a Columnist for Community College Daily!

🚨 The next workforce crisis is already unfolding.

America is facing a growing gap between available jobs and the skilled workers needed to fill them. As the number of high school graduates declines and industries evolve faster than ever, community colleges stand at the center of the solution — reskilling adults, aligning pathways, and redefining what access to opportunity looks like.

In Dr. Mordecai’s latest column for Community College Daily, he explores why this challenge is accelerating and how institutions can lead with innovation, courage, and purpose.

Read “Bracing for Impact”
👉 https://www.ccdaily.com/2025/10/bracing-for-impact/

Brand New Article From Dr. Mordecai

The world of higher education is changing fast—and leaders who don’t adapt will be left behind.

In Dr. Mordecai’s latest article for Diverse: Issues in Higher Education, he challenges colleges and universities to stop being “one-trick ponies.” Survival—and impact—requires innovation, agility, and boldness. In this piece, he unpacks:

• Why traditional models of higher ed are no longer enough

• How institutions can evolve to meet learner and workforce demands

• The urgent call for leaders to either adapt… or step aside

READ THE FULL ARTICLE: https://www.diverseeducation.com/opinion/article/15751885/no-more-onetrick-ponies-adapt-evolve-or-step-aside

Dr. Mordecai Pens New Article About the Frozen Job Market and Its Impact on Men of Color

When the job market freezes, who gets left behind?

Too often, it’s men of color.

In this video, Dr. Mordecai shares why he wrote his latest article with Diverse: Issues in Higher Education—and why community colleges must rise to meet this moment.

READ THE FULL ARTICLE:
https://www.diverseeducation.com/opinion/article/15751690/frozen-job-market-forgotten-students-why-men-of-color-need-community-colleges-now

Building an Executive Communications Strategy : A Playbook for the Next Generation of Leaders

To read this article, head over to the Published section!

Brand New Article is Now Available!

As leaders, educators, and citizens—we must confront a growing question: Are we still the moral stewards our students and communities need us to be?

In my latest piece for Diverse: Issues in Higher Education, Dr. Mordecai explores the shift happening across campuses nationwide. Where political polarization, institutional fear, and the erosion of shared values are changing the very fabric of higher learning.

This article is not an indictment—it's a call to awareness. A call to courage. A call to lead with conviction, across political lines, and above all, with purpose.

Read more in the Published section or watch the video in the Videos section.

Brand New Article is Now Available!

“The urgency is at an all-time high for institutions to properly align their institutional strategy, ensuring a strong return on investment (ROI) for learners, educators, and stakeholders alike.”

Read more at: https://www.diverseeducation.com/opinion/article/15744446/from-policy-to-budget-cuts-the-urgent-fiscal-realty-higher-education-must-prepare-for-now

Embracing the Future: Why Higher Education’s Transformation is Just Beginning

🚨 Diverse: Issues In Higher Education New Article Alert! 🚨

In my latest article, "Embracing the Future: Why Higher Education’s Transformation is Just Beginning," I delve into the evolving landscape of higher education and what it means for learners, institutions, and communities. 🌍✨

As we navigate rapid advancements in technology, shifting learner expectations, and the demand for workforce-aligned education, it’s clear that transformation isn’t just inevitable—it’s necessary. 🙌🏽

This article explores how we can seize this moment to innovate, adapt, and lead with purpose, ensuring that higher education remains a powerful engine of opportunity and equity. 🔑📚

Check it out here: 👉🏽 https://www.diverseeducation.com/opinion/article/15711656/embracing-the-future-why-higher-educations-transformation-is-just-beginning

Brand New Article by Dr. Mordecai!

“In the post-pandemic era of higher education, college access, public trust in higher education, and AI are all converging in a disruptive way, ushering in a new standard for our learners.”

Read more at: https://www.diverseeducation.com/opinion/article/15709433/empowering-community-colleges-through-ai-a-new-era-of-access-and-economic-mobility

New EdSurge Article: Putting People First as Higher Ed Grapples With AI

The urgency of higher education to integrate and create policies for using AI technology in the classroom is rapidly increasing. The equitable success of our students should remain front and center as we lead these efforts.

Please read my latest EdSurge article titled, “Putting People First as Higher Ed Grapples With AI” here: https://www.edsurge.com/news/2024-04-29-putting-people-first-as-higher-ed-grapples-with-ai

Beyond the Divide: Advancing Digital Equity and Access

To read this article, please visit: https://wcet.wiche.edu/frontiers/2024/04/11/beyond-the-divide-advancing-digital-equity-and-access/

Article Written by Dr. Mordecai: In 2019, Let’s Bring the Community Back to College (Ed Surge)

This article written by Mordecai Ian Brownlee Ed.D. was originally published here on EdSurge.