When I wrote about my three words for the year in the Summer 2024 issue of Insights, I didn’t know how prophetic they would be. 51³Ô¹Ï members, we’ve been through some things lately and by relying on serenity, courage, and wisdom, we’re moving forward, staying strong, and making decisions that benefit our association.
I struggled with the theme for this issue. I felt like my students when we’re brainstorming topics for an essay, and everything feels not quite right. One day, during some mindless scrolling, I happened upon , a segment of Kindness 101, with Steve Hartman and his kids. Finally, something that resonated with my spirit. Looking back at past articles, I’ve touched on this topic before and it made me realize how much I value gratitude and have learned to lean into life’s joys, big and little.
I’m using this opportunity to thank the folks who did not miss a beat when we had a change in leadership. We had a conference to deliver in May and the office team of Sue DePra, Sarah Brachman, Rachel King, Valerie Vasquez-Guzman, LeAnnette Bailey, Cyndi Bohlin, Kim Constantine, Cydnie Davis, Jean Lockwood, Caitlin Myers, and Tanesha Norman exceeded expectations. But, then again, have they ever given us less? Let’s never take them for granted.
I will be eternally grateful to Sue DePra for accepting the Board of Directors offer (I was praying hard, folks!) to step into the role of Interim CEO. Sue is not one to seek the spotlight; however, I feel the need to call out her graciousness, professionalism, and commitment to the members of 51³Ô¹Ï. Personally, she keeps me sane, and I appreciate our message exchanges that sometimes come at 4:00 a.m.
I thought about waiting to say thank you to folks in my last Presidential Insights article next year; however, there’s no time like the present. My late grandmother, Willie Mae Sykes, was a fervent believer in the power of saying thank you and it’s a lesson that I carry with me.
I want to thank our members who gave me hugs, words of support, encouraging smiles, or all three during the Detroit conference. Thank you for trusting me and the Board of Directors with some hard decisions made recently. I appreciate you more than you know.
I want to thank the board for their thoughtful discussions, constant attention to detail, and curiosity about all things 51³Ô¹Ï. Being a board member, especially in the first year, is like drinking from a firehose and there’s never a dull moment. The members of the Executive Committee—Brooke Daly (Vice President for Education & Training), Sherri Maxman (Vice President for Committees), Chris Andersson (Vice President for Ethics & Standards of Practice), Suzanne Lewis (Vice President for Membership & Engagement), Stephanie Klein Wassink (Secretary/Treasurer), and Ibrahim Firat (Immediate Past President)—work tirelessly in support of 51³Ô¹Ï’s mission. I know what my days are like as a member of 51³Ô¹Ï’s leadership team, so I understand the time commitment for them. Yes, they volunteered for this work, but you really don’t know what it entails until you’re in the thick of it.
Shannon Bergeron, Jess Chermak, Eric Endlich, Mindy Goodman, Anne Holmdahl, Amy McVeigh, Krissy Naspo, Juan-Camilo Tamayo, and Shirley Xian, thank you. Each one of you enriches my experience on the board and I’m grateful for the lessons I learn from you on a regular basis.
The members of the 2025 CEO Hiring Committee said “yes” without hesitation when asked to take on this momentous task. Committing to regular meetings, reading candidate materials, interviewing candidates, and presenting strong candidates to the Board of Directors is an enormous investment of their time and talents. Thank you to David Altschuler, Steven Antonoff, Sara Cavalieri, Bar Clarke, Sue DePra, Ibrahim Firat, Karen Mabie, and Rose Ellen Mocombe.
To the many committee chairs and volunteers, 51³Ô¹Ï would not be the association it is without your dedication. Your countless hours spent discussing ideas, strategizing plans, and creating educational content are appreciated. For that, I am grateful. To all our members, thank you.
“Showing gratitude is one of the simplest yet most powerful things humans can do for each other.” —Randy Pausch
Belinda J. Wilkerson, EdD
51³Ô¹Ï President