I’ve had the pleasure of working with hundreds of higher education administrators and leaders over the past 20 years or so. The health habits of those administrators in many ways mimic those of the general population. Some routinely wake up at 4:30 a.m. and go for a five-mile run, are very conscious of what they eat, and get eight hours of sleep every night. Others attempt to fit some physical activity into their routines, try but don’t always succeed at eating healthy foods, and sometimes get as much sleep as they should. And some are completely sedentary, eat far too many fatty and processed foods, and don’t prioritize quality sleep.
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
