Coming together amongst the coral walls Haggar Parlor, Holy Cross College President Marco Clark, Saint Mary’s College President Katie Conboy and University of Notre Dame founding director of the Institute for Ethics and Common Good Meghan Sullivan discussed leadership across the tri-campus.
The lecture, hosted by the Student Diversity Board (SDB), titled “Lead from Where You Are: Identity, Impact and Everyday Leadership,” invited students to engage with senior administrators and gain insight into leadership shaped by education, involvement and faith.
Reflecting on leading institutional change, Sullivan described the challenges of transforming the University’s ethics initiative.
“I had to transform a research institute seven years ago. That was a very, very, very hard form of change. There were people that definitely didn’t want that change to happen, and I would have been crushed like a bug if I attempted that by myself,” Sullivan said.
Sullivan credited her growth as a leader to collaboration and the support of colleagues willing to share their expertise in education and service.
Conboy emphasized the importance of collaboration, particularly when pursuing large-scale initiatives. She encouraged leaders to welcome differing perspectives, even those that may challenge or oppose their ideas.
“Don’t go at it alone if you’re going to do something big,” Conboy said. “When you choose those people who are going to go with you, don’t go with only people who think the same way.”
The conversation then turned to how personal values shape leadership across the tri-campus. Clark highlighted the concept of stewardship, connecting his leadership approach to both faith and lived experience.
“I’ve been given a privilege to be in this seat and to be in this position, to try to move it forward and to try to advance a purpose that’s so much bigger than me,” Clark said.
He emphasized a broader vision of community flourishing.
“We talk so much at Holy Cross about human flourishing, and I remind our staff sometimes that it’s not just about the students flourishing,” Clark said. “We want everyone to flourish. When we all flourish, the place flourishes, right? The world’s a better place.”
As the panel continued, the speakers addressed the challenges of building strong teams, noting the importance of humility and discernment.
“I used to have this very mistaken attitude ten years ago, that I could hire anybody and make them better, even if they weren’t that good,” Sullivan said. “No, it is not true.”
She added that leadership development is not linear but occurs through key moments of growth over time. Clark expanded on this idea, emphasizing emotional intelligence as central to leadership.
“I do think that leadership is also an exercise in growing our emotional intelligence,” Clark said. “It requires a discerning person, a personality that is deeply reflective.”
The discussion concluded with reflections on the role of higher education in forming leaders, highlighting the importance of community, resilience and purpose both inside and beyond the classroom.
