Higher Ed Without Borders interviews Dr. Cynthia Jackson-Hammond President CHEA

Higher Ed Without Borders

Show Notes

Dr. Cynthia Jackson Hammond, President of the Council for Higher Education Accreditation (CHEA). She has been a member of the higher education community for over 30 years. Her professional career has included tenured and administrative positions in universities throughout various regions of the United States.

Prior to joining CHEA as President, Dr. Jackson-Hammond served as President of Central State University in Ohio. She is a sought-after thought leader on accreditation, multicultural diversity, and inclusion. Her academic discipline is Education and Higher Education Administration. She is an ardent advocate for quality assurances and transparency in higher education and is committed to the advancement of college success, equity, and integrity in postsecondary education.

She received her Bachelor’s degree from Grambling State University, a Master’s degree in Education from the University of Louisiana in Monroe, and her Doctorate in Education from Grambling State University.

The interview includes the following questions:

• Let's begin by discussing the Council for Higher Education Accreditation and its role in the United States. Are you a part of the Department of Education, a regulator of accreditors, or something else? Can you give our listeners an overview?
• CHEA is also engaged in the promotion of quality higher education internationally. Many of our listeners are senior-level higher ed leaders outside the United States. Which type of international universities/countries should consider approaching one of the six regional accrediting agencies for their institutional accreditation?
• How do you see the role of accreditors and their relationship with individual universities? How is it changing for US regionals, international, or individual program accreditors
• Most countries and higher education systems around the world are accredited by government agencies or ministries. But CHEA accreditation is a form of non-governmental self-regulation that includes both self and peer assessment. How would you compare and contrast these two types of accreditation systems? Do you believe that CHEA type of self-regulated accreditation process could also work well in many other countries?
• You come from being a successful higher ed administrator and a university President to now the leader of a non-profit association that serves as an advocacy group. The people you now work with are leaders of accrediting bodies, federal departments, elected officials, and international leaders. Has your leadership style stayed the same, or has it changed since joining CHEA?
• In your career, you have broken some century-old glass ceilings. Yet, you said in 2018, “We must remember that quality leadership is the same regardless of race and gender. I would advise aspiring female leaders not to use gender as a crutch because we don’t need it. We are capable, we don’t judge ourselves against another gender or our counterparts, and we do what is necessary to be successful for our universities.” What practical advice do you normally give aspiring leaders from historically disadvantaged groups sections of society?

Comments and Suggestions:

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