LEADING THROUGH A STORM

This story was originally meant to be about leadership, about the approach of one particular leader who, in my view, has done an exceptional job rallying people and building unity across a large and diverse university. I never intended to tell the story of a leader in a moment of conflict, but circumstances aligned in a way that shifted the conversation. What began as a profile of leadership turned into a reflection on what leadership looks like when the pressure rises.

Dr. Kelly Damphousse, President of Texas State University, offered me a rare opportunity: the chance to interview him while the university was navigating a period of public tension. In the fall of 2025, Texas State found itself at the center of a media controversy following a high-profile personnel decision, a moment that drew widespread attention and placed university leadership under scrutiny. It was right in the middle of this turbulence that I sat down with him for a filmed interview. What emerged was a set of insights shaped by his personal story, his commitment to listening, and his refusal to lead by popularity alone. These elements define his approach and help explain how leaders like him stay grounded, engaged, and principled when the storm hits.

Having had my own chances to lead projects and teams, I know how hard leadership can be, especially when you’re working with people who carry wildly different experiences and perspectives. That is one of the reasons I admire Dr. Damphousse’s leadership. His approach is deeply shaped by his upbringing. Raised in poverty and navigating childhood as an orphan in Canada, he became the first person in his foster home to attend college. His story is a testament to perseverance and possibility. That famous smile of his carries a heavy history behind it. It is a reminder of everything he had to overcome and everything he now tries to model: that education can change a life, and that leadership rooted in humility and hope can change the culture of an entire institution.

Watch the full interview below. This conversation was originally created as part of an assignment for the Leadership and Organizations seminar taught by Dr. Mary H. Martinez, one of the required courses in the doctoral program in Adult, Professional, and Community Education at Texas State University. Sharing it here is part of my commitment to making my doctoral work a public experience, an open classroom where anyone can learn alongside me. As a matter of fact, opening my learning journey to others is the main reason behind creating Education is Boring.