In her powerful new book, Hollins University President Mary Dana Hinton challenges conventional theories of higher education leadership and highlights the value of diversity in leadership roles.
Leading from the Margins: College Leadership from Unexpected Places, published by Johns Hopkins University Press, notes that while students and faculty in higher education increasingly reflect more diverse backgrounds, diversity remains rare in many leadership positions. Hinton celebrates the distinctive strengths of marginalized individuals, inviting them to embrace their own leadership potential to make a meaningful impact and drive positive change in their organizations and communities.
Hinton became Hollins’ 13th president in 2020 and previously served for six years as president of the College of Saint Benedict in Minnesota. For Leading from the Margins, she drew upon her own journey to becoming a college president to offer a potent voice to both emerging and established leaders from marginalized groups. By providing validation, inspiration, and practical guidance, she encourages them to find and nurture their own unique leadership styles and discover strength from unexpected places.
“Dr. Hinton is an inspiring and wise guide to transformational leadership,” said Marjorie Hass, president of the Council of Independent Colleges. “Her insightful book remakes our vision of what college can and should become.”
Leading from the Margins is based on Hinton’s TEDx talk of the same name. She is also the author of The Commercial Church: Black Churches and the New Religious Marketplace in America and a frequent op-ed contributor across higher education publications.
Johns Hopkins University Press will publish Leading from the Margins on February 20.
