Doing WhatS Right: The Leadership Experiences of a Community College President

Growing up on a small farm in humble surroundings, serving a distinguished military career, and trying to be the best husband, father, grandfather, and college president he could be has taught Dr. James C. Underwood a lot about leadership. Even in retirement, hes still learningbecause thats what leaders do. In Doing Whats Right, he looks back on his formative years, including how his mother was left alone with eight children following the death of her spouse. She taught her children core values, including hard work, compassion, fairness, respect, honesty, and accountability. These values would serve Dr. Underwood well during his U.S. Army active and reserves military career, including combat duty in the Central Highlands of Vietnam and concluding as an Infantry Training Battalion Commander in the USAR. His educational leadership experiences expanded 45 years concurrent for the first 20 years with his military U.S. Army Reserve duty. In 2001, he was selected president of Kaskaskia College and served the final 14 years of his educational leadership career in that position until his retirement. He was driven as a college president by the same values that led his military career and early educational positions. During his educational career, he experienced a massive heart attack and two back-to-back open-heart surgeries. This life-threatening situation changed his life from a fast-paced and hard charging style to one focused on valuing life and the time we have left on earth. Through his faith and beliefs, Dr. Underwoods leadership principles were based on Doing Whats Right for people and organizations.