Melanie Darrow

United States

Web Associate at AGB Blog

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Articles

Impact of Federal Directives

1 week ago | agb.org | Melanie Darrow

You need to login with AGB member credentials to view this content. Access your account Login Email Address AGB Members: This is the email address associated with the institution/foundation that maintains your AGB membership. If you are logging in for the first time, click here. New to AGB? Become a member Gain access to exclusive content, programs, news, and expert guidance. Join AGB Need assistance?
Transforming Cabinet Meetings

1 week ago | agb.org | Melanie Darrow

Webinar recap: Heather Fehn, chief of staff at The College of New Jersey, and Matt Maxwell, senior consultant at AGB OnBoard, explored how to streamline cabinet meetings and improve alignment across executive leadership teams. Cabinet meetings offer an important opportunity for members to engage in meaningful conversations and make impactful decisions that move the organization forward.
The Evolution of Strategic Planning in Higher Education*

2 weeks ago | agb.org | Melanie Darrow

Colleges, universities, and systems need to respond quickly and strategically to the rapidly changing landscape in higher education. Demographic changes, including the changing racial and ethnic composition of students, the continuing decline of traditionally aged students in some regions of the United States, and the gender gap in educational attainment will alter the size and composition of future classes.
College Sports in Transition: What Leaders Need to Know Now

2 weeks ago | agb.org | Melanie Darrow

College athletics is entering an era of dramatic transformation—and governing boards must be prepared. Building on this popular session from AGB’s 2025 National Conference on Trusteeship, this timely webinar will offer updated insights into the shifting landscape of Division I athletics, with particular focus on the institutional implications of the proposed multi-billion dollar House v. NCAA settlement.
Strategy Starts Here: Guiding Mission, Vision, and Direction in a Time of Change

2 weeks ago | agb.org | Melanie Darrow

An institution’s mission, vision, and direction are among the most important fiduciary assets trustees are charged with protecting and enhancing. But routine board meetings rarely provide the time or space to wrestle with these long-range questions. Drawing from AGB’s A Guide to Strategic Board Retreats, this webinar will explore how governing boards can step back from the tyranny of the immediate to engage in fundamental conversations: Who are we as an institution? What do we value most?
Financial Sustainability: Avoiding Magical Thinking

2 weeks ago | agb.org | Melanie Darrow

Financial sustainability is more than balancing a budget—it’s about ensuring your institution can fulfill its mission for generations to come. Yet too often, governing boards fall into the trap of “magical thinking”: relying on outdated assumptions, incremental budgeting, or wishful strategies that avoid difficult tradeoffs. Join AGB for a pragmatic, board-level approach to financial sustainability, rooted in the principles outlined in AGB’s A Guide to Strategic Board Retreats in Higher Education.
A Call to Reforge the Historic Compact Between Higher Education and the Federal Government

3 weeks ago | agb.org | Melanie Darrow

Skip to main content AGB joined the higher education community in a statement calling to reforge the historic compact between higher education and the federal government.
Inside AGB

3 weeks ago | agb.org | Melanie Darrow

Implications of the Executive Order on the U.S. Department of Education for Governing BoardsAGB released a policy alert addressing the implications of the executive order proposing to dismantle the U.S. Department of Education. While the agency’s full closure is unlikely without approval from Congress, significant budget and staffing cuts threaten to weaken its oversight and disrupt institutional operations. Login or become a member to access this AGB member-exclusive resource.
Running Toward the Fire

3 weeks ago | agb.org | Melanie Darrow

Credit: ADOBE.STOCK.COM / MATSIASH My husband, Donald Hart, earned a PhD in philosophy and throughout my years in administration was that voice that reminded me of the central purpose of higher education—teaching and scholarship. Before we entered the academy, he served in the Navy during the mid-1960s, which was a very difficult time to be a servicemember in our country.
Trusteeship: May/June 2025

3 weeks ago | agb.org | Melanie Darrow

Table of ContentsRunning Toward the FireBy R. Barbara GitensteinLeading a college often requires a president to deal with crises—sometimes many crises at once (or in quick succession). College leaders must navigate crises with grace; this requires communication with the board of trustees as well as other stakeholders. With the variety of crises facing higher education today, understanding crisis management—and crisis preparation—is paramount for both college presidents and trustees.