Suggested Trustee Readings

What book or publication has influenced you the most
as a community college trustee?


  • The 360 Degree Leader
        by John C. Maxwell

    "Dr.Maxwell, a former exceptionally popular pastor and speaker, shifted his focus to leadership and founded Injoy Stewardship Services and Maximum Impact. He has written more than 40 books, included Winning with People, Thinking for a Change and the two million-sellers Developing the Leader within You and The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership.

    In this book, Maxwell concentrates on those who are second in command, and offers ways to productively develop how to lead from the middle of an organization: To lead up, to lead across, and the lead down.

    Lots of good quotes, like 'Leadership is a choice you make, not a place you sit,' and 'You may be able to grant someone a position, but you cannot grant him (or her) real leadership. Influence must be earned,' and 'I believe people should strive for the top of the game, not the top of the organization,' and 'Good leaders rarely think in terms of boundaries; instead, they think in terms of opportunities,' and 'Vision leaks. It needs to be communicated clearly, creatively, and continually,' from Maxwell.

    Add quotes like 'True heroism is remarkably sober, very undramatic. It is not the urge to surpass all others at whatever cost, but the urge to serve others at whatever the cost' -- Arthur Ashe; 'The person who keeps busy helping the one who is below him won't have time to envy the person above him' -- Henrietta Mears."

    --Linden Warfel, Parkland College trustee

  • Awards and Recognition for Exceptional Teachers
        by Dr. Hans A. Andrews

    "Hans A. Andrews has again given us a basis upon which to improve our colleges and schools with his most recent book Awards and Recognition for Exceptional Teachers. He gives each of us educational practitioners a guide for successful implementation for a recognition program. Not only are best practices from across the USA and Canada shared by Andrews, but he also exhibits international examples as well. This book is the basis for supporting our most valuable resource - exceptional teachers."

  • The Dual-Credit Phenomenon! Challenging Secondary School Students
        in 50 States
        by Dr. Hans A. Andrews

    "No book gives an educator a better analysis and summary for the importance of dual-credit than what Andrews has written. Every community college will benefit from the examples and challenges outlined in the book that supports the dual-credit concept. Quality courses with collegiate standards are possible when applying Andrews' criteria for dual-credit excellence."

    -- Dr. John S. Erwin, Illinois Central College president

  • The Bible

    "The Bible by God and His people. Types of influence: morals & ethics, we are all the same, work ethic, helping all others, forging ahead regardless of circumstance, rejoice in your blessings."

    -- Dana Trimble, Parkland College trustee

  • Boards That Make a Difference
        by John Carver

    "As a new trustee a few years ago it was a good introduction to the process. This was the first time that I sat on a board making the policy decisions and administering a $30 million annual operating budget and a $53 million overall budget (including capital expenditures). As a practicing attorney for 25 years, and having represented numerous governmental entities, previously I had sat in the wings and advised others on the same issues. I needed to step back and view the process from a new perspective and Carver's book was a good introduction from my new vantage point. Just prior to that I had the privilege of hearing John Carver speak in a small group setting in Atlanta and his remarks make the book even more meaningful."

    -- Roger Rutherford, Lincoln Land Community College trustee

  • Built to Last
        by James C. Collins and Jerry I. Porras

  • Shared Values for a Troubled World: Conversations with Men and Women
        of Conscience
        by Rushworth Kidder

    "Built to Last and Shared Values for a Troubled World would be my two top choices."

    -- Linden Warfel, Parkland College trustee

    -- Read an Amazon.com review of Shared Values by Parkland College
       trustee Tom Bennett

  • Classroom Assessment Technology
        by Thomas A. Angelo and K. Patricia Cross

  • Assess and Excellence: The Open Door College
        by John E. Roueche and George A. Baker

    "Each of these books has influenced the Board with foretold demographic changes in higher education, and and motivates the Board to the mission of the College to empower people by raising aspirations and fostering achievement through dynamic, compassionate, and responsible learning experiences. Also, the following publications: Chronicle of Higher Education, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, The (Alton) Telegraph. (These publications keep the Trustees current at the local, regional, and national levels.)

    -- Dr. Dale Chapman, Lewis and Clark Community College president

  • Don't Forgive Too Soon
        by Dennis, Sheila and Matthew Linn

    "The authors deal very constructively with anger management, which helps in developing positive strategies on how to deal with persons who are destructive both to themselves, others, and to the mission and purposes of organizations. The authors, husband, wife, and son, do seminars around the country as well as writing and consulting."

    -- Linden Warfel, Parkland College trustee

  • Geeks and Geezers
        Warren Bennis and Robert J. Thomas

    "I would commend to your reading Geeks and Geezers, a fine book co-written by a geek and a geezer. Warren Bennis and Robert J. Thomas speak about 'How Era, Values, and Defining Moments Shape Leaders" in this Harvard Business School Press book. I even like David Gergen's intro, where he quotes from another favorite book of mine, Truman, by David McCullough."

    -- Linden Warfel, Parkland College trustee

  • Governance as Leadership: Reframing the Work of Nonprofit Boards
        by Richard P. Chait, William P. Ryan, and Barbara E. Taylor

    "If you read only one book on trusteeship this year, this is the one to read. And if you don't have the time to read it, here's the whole book in only 86 words:

    Micromanagement happens when meeting agendas force the board to spend all of its time reviewing the President's operational decisions.

    Boards should quit doing that and focus on:

    (1) fiduciary responsibility -- Ask 'Are we getting the most bang for our buck?'

    (2) strategic responsibility -- Ask 'What changes are going to hit the college and the district in the next five years and what can we do to deal with them when they come?'

    And (3) generative responsibility -- Ask 'What can we do today to shape our community's tomorrow?'

    -- Dr. Gary W. Davis, retired executive director
       Illinois Community College Trustees Association

  • Imprimis
        Hillside College

    "I would also comment 'Imprimis,' a monthly newsletter from Hillside College, wherein they feature exceprts from guest speakers at college functions. The current mailing list for that publication is over a million. It's free. You can subscribe via the Internet at the college website."

    -- Linden Warfel, Parkland College trustee

  • The Leadership Challenge
        by James Kouses and Barry Posner

    "Trains one on leadership development which can directly impact my board participation and outlook."

    -- Nick Kachiroubas, McHenry County College trustee

  • Leadership and the Quest for Integrity
        by Joseph L. Badaracco, Jr., and Richard R. Ellsworth

    "Looking at differences between leaders and managers . . . . I would like to suggest that Leadership and the Quest for Integrity by Badaracco and Ellsworth be added to the suggested reading list for trustees/presidents. They describe the three major categories of style, and then discuss what they think is the best. Lots of good quotes in it!

    -- Linden Warfel, Parkland College trustee

  • Leading Quietly
        by Joseph L. Badaracco, Jr.

    "Looking at the true core of leadership, the quiet leaders who make the everyday decisions that make or break our society."

    -- Linden Warfel, Parkland College trustee

  • Liberty and Learning
        by Dr. Larry Arnn

    "Dr. Arnn reviews the historical educational foundations of America in this interesting small book. He laments the current state of federal influence. Lots of good quotes, like this one from James Madison in Federalist 51: 'In framing a government which is to be administered by men over men, the great difficulty lies in this: you must first enable the government to control the governed, and in the next place oblige it to control itself.' Another good quote, from Edmund Fairfield, one of the college's early presidents and a principal in the founding of the Republican Party: 'Ignorance is a prerequisite of slavery - the more ignorance, the more slavery.' (That applies to the passionate demands of the Taliban and other groups in today's world to forbid education for women.) Fairfield went on to say, in a speech at Hillsdale College: 'In a republic the people are the kings. They have the insignia, not the ribbons and medals, but instead the insignia of 'nature's nobility', which are the hand hardened by toil, the face radiant with intelligence and manly virtue.' On page 26, Dr. Arnn deliniates values into three categories: Commercial (industry, frugalness and honesty), Family (faithfulness, devotion, and love), and Public (justice, courage, and moderation).

    -- Linden Warfel, Parkland College trustee

  • Lincoln on Leadership
        by Donald T. Phillips

    "Difficult question to which I don't have a definite answer. I will say that I consider Donald T. Phillips' book Lincoln on Leadership as a great source for identifying fundamental principles of leadership that are apropos. I believe there is much wisdom within the many seemingly simple principles listed throughout the book."

    -- Jim Beasley, Kaskaskia College trustee

  • Martin Luther King, Jr. on Leadership
        Donald T. Phillips

    "We will be living tomorrow with the very people against whom we are struggling today; that 'all inhabitants of the globe are now neighbors'; and 'this world-wide neighborhood' has been a result of modern technological revolutions. We have inherited a great 'world house' in which we have to live together - black and white, Easterner and Westerner, Gentile and Jew, Catholic and Protestant, Muslim and Hindu - a family unduly separated in ideas, culture and interest, who, because we can never again live apart, must somehow learn to live together in peace.' -- Martin Luther King, Jr.

    "In this book on Leadership, which in my view is much broader in scope than Phillips' earlier book on Abraham Lincoln on Leadership, the ideas on Christianity and nonviolence as espoused by Mahatma Ghandi and change are fit into the process of being a servant leader.

    It is a good read, full of thoughtful comments by Dr. King. Lots of good quotes for discussion or use in speeches today..., and tomorrow.

    'There is a dire need for leaders who are calm yet positive, who avoid extremes, who understand the issues, who possess opinions and a will, who will not lie, and who can stand before a demagogue and damn his treacherous flatteries without winking.' King called for leaders 'not in love with money, but in love with justice; not in love with publicity, but in love with humanity; leaders who can subject their particular egos to greatness of the cause.'"

    -- Linden Warfel, Parkland College trustee

  • Moral Courage
        Rushworth Kidder

    "The ninth book by Rush Kidder brings together his ideas and experiences in a fashion that flows together well. Schematically, overlapping circles representing: principles, endurance, and danger, represent the underpinnings of moral courage.

    Of particular note for persons associated with community colleges in Illinois, is data reflecting two studies done by Kidder via the Illinois Community College Board (page 54).

    For eight chapters Kidder lays out the three primary ingredients of moral courage, then, in the final chapter, he brings them together with his thoughts on "Practicing Moral Courage in the Public Square".

    Moral Courage is worthy of becoming required reading by students, teachers, administrators and board members. Perhaps it could be on a summer reading list, followed by seminars bringing together the community of community colleges."

    -- Linden Warfel, Parkland College trustee

  • A New Vision of Board Leadership: Governing the Community College
        by John Carver and Miriam Mayhew Carver

  • Nickel and Dimed
        by Barbara Ehrenreich

    "Made me aware of the tools available to Boards so they can creatively hold administrations accountable for performance. The second book describes the population with whom we deal on our campuses."

    -- Carl Oblinger, Lincoln Land Community College trustee

  • Servant Leadership series

    "Any of the Servant Leadership materials has been big on my list. My interest in the Leadership / Core Values projects has been one of the most rewarding for me, both at the state level and at our own college. The servant leadership concept and the training sessions we attended have all been very important to me."

    -- Dr. Kay Bennett, Southwestern Illinois College trustee

  • The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make A Big Difference
        by Malcolm Gladwell

    -- Don Patton, Shawnee Community College trustee

  • Trustee Quarterly newsletter
        by the Association of Community College Trustees

  • The Other Side of the River
        by Alex Kotlowitz

    "Selecting one that influenced me the most is just not possible because there are so many good things to read and help me learn and grow as a trustee. I just received the Trustee Quarterly and it has several articles that look great. The Other Side of the River by Alex Kotlowitz influenced me to realize that racial stereotyping is more of an issue in America than I thought. It forced me to see that it exists in my very own community, and that a conscious effort must be made every day to avoid it. And that the community college should work toward becoming a model in the community as a successful experience for students, faculty and staff, free from racial stereotyping."

    -- Eleanor MacKinney, Elgin Community College trustee

  • Trusteeship in Community Colleges
        by Cindra J. Smith

    "I have read and distributed to my board as chairman (last year's Christmas present) a book -- Trusteeship in Community Colleges by Cindra J. Smith. Good book with insight."

    -- Jim Lane, Illinois Eastern Community Colleges trustee

    "As a new trustee, I have found Trusteeship in Community Colleges an excellent resource guide. I also read every issue of the Trustee Quarterly."

    -- Janice Pearson, Prairie State College trustee

  • Why Leaders Can't Lead
        by Warren Bennis

    "Insights from 30 years teaching/lecturing/studying leaders, their success and failure."

    -- Linden Warfel, Parkland College trustee

    For a list of books on LEADERSHIP AND CORE VALUES, click here.

    Do you have other suggestions to add to this reading list? Please share them with us by e-mailing ICCTA or calling 1-800-454-2282.



    • Illinois Community College Trustees Association
    401 E. Capitol Ave., Suite 200
    Springfield, IL 62701-1711
    217-528-2858 (phone)
    217-528-8662 (fax)
    ICCTA@communitycolleges.org (e-mail)
    http://www.communitycolleges.org



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