As academic leaders, we are under so much pressure to deliver—enrollment targets, strategic plans, graduation rates, AI policies, and on and on—that we can lose sight of what our students and institutions need to thrive. The good news is that this “secret ingredient” is free, nimble, and evidence based. Our research suggests that human relationships are key to students’ academic success and personal well-being. And the benefits extend to faculty and staff too.
Character (Still) Counts: Moral Injury and the Case for Character Education
Many academic leaders remember the Character Counts! initiative from the 1990s and early 2000s. It was visible in schools and youth programs nationwide, emphasizing as core values the Six Pillars
Teresa Maggard Stephens
June 15, 2026
