About Colleen Perry Keith:

Colleen Perry Keith, Ph.D., is the 14th and first female president in the 140-year history of Goldey-Beacom College, assuming the role on July 1, 2019. With nearly 40 years of experience in higher education, she previously served as president of Pfeiffer University and Spartanburg Methodist College.

Dr. Keith serves on multiple boards, including the Partnership (education affiliate of the Delaware State Chamber of Commerce), the Delaware State Chamber of Commerce Board of Governors, Transform Mid-Atlantic (as Chair), and the NCAA Division II Executive Board (as Chair) and Board of Governors (as Vice Chair). She is also on the Roofs from the Heart Foundation board.

Active in women’s leadership and advocacy, Dr. Keith is involved with the Forum of Executive Women – Delaware, the Fund for Women, Delaware Million Women Mentors, and the Fresh Start Scholarship program. Her work has earned recognition such as South Carolina Career Woman of the Year (2010) and Delaware Today’s Women in Business Honoree (2022).

Her passion for education began while helping displaced steelworkers in Pittsburgh find new careers, inspiring her lifelong mission to promote economic security through post-secondary education.

Dr. Keith holds degrees from Binghamton University (B.A.), the University of Pittsburgh (M.Ed.), and The Ohio State University (Ph.D.). She lives in Pike Creek, DE, with her husband, Barry, and their two bulldogs, Daisy and Charlie, and enjoys time with her son, Tim, daughter-in-law, Anna, and grandchildren, Michael and Isabella.

In this episode, Kevin and Colleen Perry Keith discuss:

• Authentic leadership in higher education
• Fostering student curiosity and engagement in learning
• The importance of developing student coping skills
• Creativity and flexibility in educational leadership
• Lessons from decades of experience in academic leadership

Key Takeaways:

• Authentic leadership begins with self-awareness. When leaders understand their values and stay grounded in who they are, they create spaces where others feel seen, respected, and inspired to contribute.
• Curiosity is the gateway to transformative learning. True education happens when leaders and learners approach knowledge with open minds, asking questions that challenge assumptions and expand understanding beyond traditional boundaries.
• Resilience is built through supportive, compassionate guidance. By helping students and employees develop coping skills and navigate challenges, leaders create environments where personal growth becomes a shared journey of discovery.
• Leadership is about empowering others to discover and live into their calling.

"I don't really care how the job is get done... as long as it's done within the budget... and as long as the end result is we're meeting the outcomes that we want to meet, and the college is succeeding, and our students are being well served." – Colleen Perry Keith

Connect with Colleen Perry Keith:

Website: www.gbc.edu

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/cpkeith/

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/colleen-perry-keith-9a1ba2/

Connect with Kevin Neal:

Website: https://drkdneal.com

Book: https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B0C47RZDSS

https://www.amazon.com/Guided-Greatness-Mentorship-Developing-professionals-ebook/dp/B0FGBH1VNS

Email: [email protected]

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/coachkd63