BW LHE Grad Says BW Master’s Degree Prepared him for College Leadership Roles

As the coordinator for student success programs at Kent State University, Cody Holland '18 is happily ensconced in the fulfilling career path that the BW Leadership in Higher Education (LHE) program prepared him to pursue.

For Holland, who earned his bachelor's degree in biology from The Ohio State University, the BW LHE program stood out because it immerses graduate students in more than one area of campus life and leadership.

"I loved the double internships and focus on practical applications in the field," he explains. "Each of my internships prepared me in their different ways, but there were commonalities as well."

"I was given autonomy over many programs which gave me room to learn and grow," he continues. "I was able to learn project management and facilitation skills and apply the theories and concepts I was learning in class to my interactions with different student leaders."

Leadership and Networking

At Kent, the student success office supports first-year students in acclimating to college life and succeeding and persisting through graduation. Holland has a particular focus on training and equipping emerging young leaders as well as supporting other first-year transition programs.

Holland suggests future LHE students pay attention to the importance of networking on the higher education career path.

"There are a ton of opportunities at BW and other institutions in the region," he notes. "This field is very relational, and there have been multiple times where I have leveraged my connections to get ahead."

Success Stats and Information

Since the first group of LHE graduates in 2011, alumni have gone on to find meaningful employment both at higher education institutions and within non-profit and private sectors across the country, including The Ohio State University, Goodwill Industries, MetroHealth, The University of South Carolina, Vanderbilt University and more.

The next LHE cohort at BW starts in August 2021 with graduate internships still available. Visit the Leadership in Higher Education Program admission page to learn more.