Appreciations

"I have been progressively engaged in higher education administration for nearly twenty years.  And although I taught as a member of the faculty, I have been fortunate to work with a host of Institutional leaders that have asked me by promotion or appointment, to assume greater responsibility for moving the university where I have worked, to new levels of quality.  The pathways to determining quality is not something everyone on a college campus finds easy to reach by way of consensus.  And getting some people to see the college through the eyes of the enrolled and prospective students is like moving a graveyard.  When confronted with such a challenge - among numerous others -  there are really only a hand full of people that are "accessible" that are truly willing to help you navigate the terrain of drought and or desertification - in both cases when there is acute lack of resources - financial and human. Nevertheless, at the end of a long journey on desert-like conditions, there is an almost unexpected change in the landscape.  But it is not the physical landscape that is most important, it is mental landscape that make all of the difference. And there are a few people that can help you get there.

I have known Dr. Yonette Thomas for years. And without question, she is the single most important figure in my professional space that I unequivocally trust. Dr. Thomas has a world view and can see well above 40,000 feet of clouds, and at the same time, she is perceptive and has a knack for clearing blurred lines in the bureaucracy of higher education administration. She can tell you precisely why the graveyard will not move and the laser-focus change that you need to employ to move the institution to new levels of quality for students and faculty. There is no one that I trust more to objectively listen, acutely assess and help to develop a road map for "what's next".  Dr. Thomas is a highly trained and globally exposed scientist with a rare mix of interrelated skills comprised of demographic and population statistics, allied health, economic and social sciences. She 
is a master of discernment and has the ability to grasp the context of your environment and the actors in it.  Every director, department chair, vice president and and yes - college president or CEO needs to have someone like Dr. Thomas in their "kitchen cabinet" to help navigate the daily, weekly and monthly terrain that has challenged the higher education and related industry landscape like never before."

"I was very excited to land my first executive leadership position at a well-known non-profit agency in my community. I was 100% sure that I could do the job and do it well. I was eager to stabilize the struggling programs and implement strategies to actualize the vision set forth by the agency. To my surprise, I found that my enthusiasm, passion, knowledge, skill and abilities were appreciated on one end and stifled on the next. Eventually my excitement turned into confusion, uncertainty, isolation and frustration. I am no stranger to these emotions, but managing them within the context of employment at this level was new ground. I knew I needed help to manage these issues without appearing to be an “Angry Black Woman.” That is when I sought the help of Dr. Thomas.

Her coaching, visioning, and guidance helped me to trust my instincts, understand office dynamics and utilize my strengths to manage in a toxic work environment. She provided a safe space for me to express my raw emotions during our meetings and strategy calls, and subsequently I was able to be calm, articulate, poised and purposeful in the work environment— until I transitioned out of that environment into my own business. I am very grateful for Yonette and I would highly recommend her to any professional who is seeking support with career transitions."