I recently found myself in a large meeting with a room full of leaders in higher education: college presidencies, deans, and other managers and leaders from public colleges. There was the normal discussion of policies and data. People sat sipping from water bottles and coffee cups or answering emails on their phones or laptops. Maybe this scene will seem familiar to some of you. I’ve been in countless meetings like this one, but something about this particular meeting stuck with me.
Beyond Programs: Leadership Lessons from Ireland’s Inclusive Universities
During a recent sabbatical studying inclusive postsecondary education in Ireland, I visited four universities—University College Cork, Trinity College Dublin, Dún Laoghaire Institute of Art, Design and Technology, and Mary Immaculate
Ashley Rodrigues
July 20, 2026
