Becoming the Golden Fifty: A Reflection on Leadership, Love, and Community
Written by Dr. Christina L. Myers, Member of the 50th HERS Leadership Institute Cohort
“Love is a combination of care, commitment, knowledge, respect, and trust.” — bell hooks, Communion: The Female Search for Love
These words from bell hooks are a blueprint for the kind of leader I hope to be. And if HERS has reminded me of anything, it is that transformational leadership is, at its core, an act of love.
Not the kind of love that is easy or comfortable, but the kind that stretches us. The kind that asks us to be vulnerable before we feel ready, courageous before we feel qualified, and faithful before we can see the outcome. The kind of love that transforms us before it ever transforms anyone else.
Where Transformation Begins
I arrived in Golden carrying equal parts excitement, gratitude, and uncertainty.
As an assistant professor still early in my journey, I wondered if I was ready for this space. I wasn’t quite sure what to expect, but I knew I had been entrusted with an opportunity that few are blessed to experience.
What I didn’t know was that my greatest lessons wouldn’t come only from the sessions, the case studies, or the incredible speakers, though each of those was invaluable. My transformation unfolded in the ordinary moments that became sacred because of the people who shared them.
It began in a taxi ride with someone who, just hours before, had been a stranger but quickly became my sister. It continued as we moved into dorm rooms, something I hadn’t done in decades, and collectively experienced the horror of discovering the building had run out of toilet paper.
It was watching our early morning walkers and runners head toward the hills with smiles on their faces while I questioned what kind of people voluntarily choose elevation before breakfast.
And then there was the kitchen.
Somehow, the kitchen became sacred ground. It was where stories were shared, barriers quietly disappeared, and strangers became family. Cards came out (#Wolfpack), laughter filled the room, tears were met with compassion, and hugs were given without hesitation.
We celebrated one another’s victories. We carried one another’s burdens. We sat in comfortable silence. Somewhere between the conversations and the quiet, community was born.
Those moments reminded me that some of God’s greatest work happens through people. Community has a way of stretching us, challenging us, covering us, encouraging us, and lovingly reminding us of who we are when we’ve momentarily forgotten.
Becoming More Fully Who We Are
There were also quiet moments. Moments when I found myself wrestling with questions I imagine many of us carried into this experience.
What’s next for me? Am I enough? Can I really lead at the level I’m being called to?
But every time doubt found me, grace found me first. A conversation in the hallway. A knowing smile. A word of encouragement at exactly the right moment. A sibling saying, “Girl…you’re going to be president.” Now, whether that presidency is of a university, an organization, or simply my own destiny isn’t really the point.
The point is this: Sometimes other people recognize your calling before you have the courage to fully embrace it yourself. And what a gift it is to be surrounded by people who refuse to let you shrink.
This experience reminded me that I don’t have to become someone else to be an effective leader. I simply have to become more fully who I was created to be.
The Golden Fifty
And perhaps that’s why it feels so fitting that we are the 50th cohort, gathered here in a place called Golden. I don’t believe that’s merely a coincidence.
The number 50 represents far more than a milestone. It marks Jubilee, a season of freedom, restoration, and new beginnings.
Many of us arrived carrying questions, fears, and uncertainty. Today, we leave with renewed vision, deeper confidence, and a community that has forever changed us.
And then there is the color gold. Gold is not precious because it is easy to find. It becomes valuable because it survives the fire. It is refined, not ruined, by the heat.
Isn’t that what leadership asks of us? Not perfection, but refinement. Not certainty, but hope. Not comfort, but courage.
Those of us in higher education understand refining fires. We know what it means to carry responsibility, navigate uncertainty, advocate when our voices are questioned, and continue showing up with excellence.
And yet, like gold, we remain. Stronger. Wiser. More compassionate. More courageous.
Shining in ways that could only come from what we’ve endured.
So perhaps we were never simply the 50th cohort in Golden. Perhaps we were always meant to become the Golden Fifty, leaders refined by grace, anchored in purpose, and called to illuminate every space we enter.
Leading With Love
And because of that, I leave HERS convinced of one thing:
Love is not weakness. Love is patient. Love is kind. Love is courage. Love is accountability. Love tells the truth. Love creates space for others to rise. Love sees possibility where others only see limitation. Love refuses to leave people unchanged, including ourselves.
That’s leadership. Not titles. Not prestige. Not corner offices. But creating spaces where people feel seen, valued, challenged, and deeply loved.
So as I leave HERS, I carry four words with me.
Boldness to say yes before fear convinces me otherwise.
Grace for myself on the days I fall short and for others who are still becoming.
Gratitude because none of this was promised, and every bit of it has been a gift.
And above all, Love. Because love will always be my leadership strategy.
What we built here is bigger than a cohort. It is a covenant. A covenant to open doors for one another. To speak one another’s names in rooms where decisions are made. To celebrate without competition. To advocate without hesitation. To remind one another who we are whenever the world tries to convince us otherwise.
Because this world does not simply need more leaders. It needs more leaders who love.
So may we leave this place with holy boldness. May we choose courage over comfort. Grace over ego. Community over competition. And love over fear.
Thank you, HERS staff, MIRS and FIRS. Thank you, my Golden siblings. Thank you for seeing me. For stretching me. For believing in me. I cannot wait to witness all that is ahead for each of us.
Because I believe, with my whole heart, that the best is not behind us. It is still yet to come.
Dr. Christina L. Myers, Member of the 50th HERS Leadership Institute Cohort
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Congratulations to the HERS Leadership Institute Class of 2026!
As we reflect on the recent 2026 HERS Leadership Institute, we are celebrating far more than the completion of nine transformative days in Golden, Colorado. We are celebrating 99 remarkable leaders who now join a vibrant community committed to advancing higher education through courageous, collaborative, and inclusive leadership.
This July, participants immersed themselves in meaningful conversations, challenging learning experiences, and lasting connections that will continue to shape their leadership journeys long after returning to their campuses. Each graduate leaves with new strategies, renewed confidence, and an expanded network of colleagues who understand both the opportunities and challenges of leading in higher education today.
Learning from Exceptional Leaders
This year’s institute featured 25 accomplished speakers and facilitators who challenged participants to think differently about leadership and equipped them with practical tools for their next career steps.
Highlights included sessions led by Executive Negotiation Strategist Rochelle Woods, leadership expert Maria Thompson of Academic Search, and Kim Bobby of AGB Search, alongside many other outstanding higher education leaders and HERS facilitators.
Across 66 interactive sessions, participants explored topics ranging from leadership identity and executive presence to negotiation, organizational culture, strategic communication, and data-informed leadership. Two of the most attended sessions—Leadership Identity and Voice and Foundations of the HERS Leadership Institute—set the tone for a transformative experience rooted in reflection, purpose, and action.
Congratulations, Class of 2026
To every member of the 2026 Summer HERS Leadership Institute class: congratulations on this incredible achievement.
Thank you for bringing your experiences, your curiosity, your courage, and your commitment to this community. Your willingness to learn from one another and invest in your own leadership strengthens not only your institutions, but the future of higher education itself.
Thank you as well to our exceptional speakers, facilitators, staff, volunteers, and partners who made this year’s institute possible. Your expertise and dedication created an experience that inspired, challenged, and connected leaders from across the country and beyond.
The conversations may have concluded in Golden, but the momentum and the connections are just beginning.
Applications for the Summer 2027 HERS Leadership Institute are now available! Visit https://hersnetwork.org/hers-institute/ to learn more about the program, get started on an application, or share the good news with your peers.
HERS Voices | Share Your Story with the HERS Community
Every leader has a story, a lesson, or an experience that can inspire others. HERS welcomes blog submissions from our community of alums, program participants, facilitators, partners, and supporters. Whether you’re reflecting on leadership, sharing a challenge you’ve navigated, or offering insights for the future of higher education, we’d love to help amplify your voice. Interested in contributing? Email us at HERS@HERSNetwork.org with your idea or a completed draft. We look forward to hearing your story.