TRUDIE KIBBE REED is the fifth President of the GREAT Bethune-Cookman University, and first women to serve in this capacity since founding president, Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune. Residing in Daytona Beach, Florida, Dr. Reed maintains a challenging career and still finds the time to provide leadership to struggling congregations.

An expert in Transformative Leadership, she is noted for radically transforming systems and organizations, based on the techniques discussed in this book. She is credited with launching the first Master of Science Program in Transformative Leadership, elevating Bethune-Cookman to its current university status in February '07.

Dr. Reed pulls from a wealth of experience that includes two presidencies at the college/university level, as well as a member of the General Secretariat of a women's advocacy organization, and over 18 years in various top-tier rankings of The United Methodist Church administration. Dr. Reed serves on the General Board of Higher Education and Ministry of The United Methodist Church. Dr. Reed earned her doctoral degree in Adult and Higher Education from Teacher's College, Columbia University in New York, NY.

This work is designed to create a forum for synthesizing collective voices from women of color in academia. It will serve as a professional development tool for academicians, both embarking upon and maintaining careers in higher education. Filled with dynamic women of color sharing one of their most valuable resources, their experience, the authors mentor the reader by discussing practical lessons and mapping career path strategies.