University of Holy Cross President Dr. Stanton McNeely recently contributed to two articles by Adam Mendler, a nationally recognized leadership expert. Mendler hosts Thirty Minute Mentors, speaks on leadership, and teaches graduate leadership courses at UCLA. In each article, Mendler asks CEOs, founders, and college presidents from across the country for their advice on a leadership question. Dr. McNeely’s answers draw on his experience leading UHC and serving the New Orleans community.

In “How to Lead Through Change,” Dr. McNeely says leading through change starts with one question: “What does my community need from me right now?” He compares it to how New Orleanians respond after a storm. Plans may change, but the purpose stays the same. He also describes UHC’s choice in 2021, when the pandemic was pushing many colleges toward tuition hikes and cutbacks. UHC ended degree tracks that weren’t meeting Louisiana’s workforce needs and built more flexible pathways for working adults. These focused tracks have shown continued growth for several consecutive semesters.

In “The Most Important Skills for the Future of Work,” Dr. McNeely names sound judgment under pressure as the skill that will matter most. He gives the example of a nurse who has mastered new clinical equipment but still has to know when to trust the data and when to trust their instincts. “Technology is a tool, not a substitute for judgment and connection,” he notes.

Read Dr. McNeely’s full contributions:

Together, Dr. McNeely’s two contributions express a single leadership philosophy: whether an organization is facing disruption or preparing for what’s ahead, the most important question is what the people who depend on us need. That conviction shapes life at the University of Holy Cross, from academic programs built around the region’s workforce to preparing graduates who bring both skill and sound judgment to their professions. As higher education and the workplace continue to change, UHC remains committed to its mission and to the New Orleans community it has served for generations.