Leading from the Margins: College Leadership from Unexpected Places

by Mary Dana Hinton

A guide to why people from marginalized backgrounds may be uniquely qualified to become effective higher education leaders―and how they can get there. Students and faculty in higher education increasingly reflect more diverse backgrounds, but this diversity remains rare in many leadership roles. In Leading from the Margins , Mary Dana Hinton celebrates the unique strengths of marginalized individuals, inviting them to embrace their leadership potential and make a difference. Drawing from Hinton's own journey to becoming a university president, this book challenges conventional leadership theories and highlights the value of diverse voices. Whether you're an emerging or established leader, Leading from the Margins will empower you to find your own leadership style and discover strength in unexpected places. Through engaging personal stories and insightful research, Hinton explores the opportunities and challenges faced by leaders from marginalized backgrounds. She sheds light on overlooked identities and emphasizes the need for leadership that reflects the demographics and needs of those being led. This book is a vital resource for people in higher education aspiring to senior leadership positions who feel unheard or unrepresented in traditional leadership roles. Hinton offers a powerful voice to leaders from marginalized groups, providing validation, inspiration, and practical guidance. By recognizing and nurturing their unique leadership styles, she encourages readers to make a meaningful impact and drive positive change in their organizations and communities. Leading from the Margins is an essential read for anyone seeking to foster inclusive and effective leadership, bridging the gap between theory and lived experiences. Embrace your identity and lead from where you are.

216 pages, Hardcover

Published February 20, 2024

Reviews

[Sydney E. Robinson · Rating 5 out of 5]

In Leading from the Margins: College Leadership from Unexpected Places (2024), Dr. Mary Dana Hinton offers a compelling exploration of how individuals from marginalized backgrounds can become transformative leaders. By leading from the margins, individuals can not only navigate existing structures but also reshape them to be more inclusive and equitable. Drawing from her journey as a Black woman from the rural South, Hinton describes how, through defiance, she became the first in her family to earn a college degree and eventually became a university president. The book is both a memoir and a guide for leadership development, providing practical and reflective strategies for both emerging and experienced leaders who feel invisible or underrepresented in traditional, often patriarchal models of leadership. Blending personal narrative, scholarship, and critique of systemic exclusion, Hinton powerfully aligns personal vocation and lived experiences to explore how leaders can emerge proudly from the margins. Hinton’s engaging and narrative-rich writing challenges norms, affirms the power of identity and representation, and lays a foundation for future research on identity-driven leadership models and systemic bias in institutional settings. I highly recommend Leading from the Margins to emerging leaders, particularly those from historically excluded backgrounds, as the compassionate and motivational tone encourages readers without being prescriptive. Her message is clear: lead with purpose, lead with others in mind, and never doubt your deservingness.