We recently connected with Dr. James K. Winfield and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Dr. Winfield, appreciate you joining us today. So, let’s start with a hypothetical – what would you change about the educational system?
As a higher education professional, I believe in the opportunities that an education can produce for individuals. However, I do not believe that success is exclusive to one type of degree or credential. With the rising demands in the workforce, a paradigm shift is reemerging in higher education, where there is more of an appreciation for all levels of learning, micro-credentials, certifications, associates, and bachelor’s degrees.
I advocate for all levels of post-secondary learning; as educators, we have to be tuned to what is valued and recognized by this vast workforce and industry. Early on in a student’s progress and introduction to education, there must be a more rounded view of what credentials are needed to succeed and excel in their aspired careers. As a first-year experience practitioner and researcher, I have seen how students have become more debt averse and rightfully want to know the “why” and “what’s next.” In my experiences as a first-generation student, I had similar questions. Although I sometimes felt lost, I had some phenomenal academic and career advisors who were honest and motivating in my aspirations. Collectively, we must better explain what opportunities come with two-year, four-year, and graduate degrees. There should be equity in orienting students to the myriad of opportunities combined with an understanding of where they aspire to go in life.
Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.
Growing up on the west side of Birmingham, Alabama (Ensley), I remember early in my junior year of high school when my mother asked me: “Where was I planning to go to college?” Years later, I can appreciate the framing of this question as she asked me “where,” not “if” I was going to college. Fast forward 20 years later, I asked my mother about this question, and she said, “I didn’t see any other way for you.” This statement was not to limit me but to show that she had a vision of a path that fit my passions and personality, and college was the route for me.
My path into higher education began as an undergraduate at Auburn University; I was a very involved student and saw the benefits and exposure that college granted me. As I saw the opportunities, I also saw the barriers existing for underserved populations and those without the capital to navigate the college environment. I took an interest in the policies, programming, and political structure and sought to figure out how to work in and improve the system. Through the coaxing of some trusted mentors and life changes, I pivoted and chose higher education administration as my career with no regrets. With that, I have had a fulfilling career working in areas around student involvement, academic support, access initiatives, and first-year experience.
My brand is my work in the access and success of students; I contribute to this at my institution, in my teaching, speaking engagements, fraternity outreach, and research and literature. Throughout my career, I have also been connected with great organizations and think tanks that have been catalysts for increasing the understanding of supporting underserved college students. One accomplishment I would like to point out is being one of the founding members of the Black First-gen Collective; this group banded together in 2019 after seeing gaps in research and a lack of understanding of the intersection being both Black and first-generation students. I am thoroughly proud of this group as we seek to enrich the narratives of an unsung student population.
We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?
A valuable lesson that I had to unlearn is that you cannot do this work alone. There are a lot of misconceptions out there that push us to believe that we must do everything ourselves. I have learned to consistently prioritize collaboration with others on a team to pull from their expertise and fill in the gaps. Working as a lone wolf puts the success of an organization on one person, and I found that not to be a healthy or sustainable approach to leadership.
You can ideate and initiate, but you need the buy-in of others to keep the momentum, and the train must continue to move even while you are not present as the conductor. As I progressed in my career, I had to learn that I could not do it all. There are moments when the buck stops with me, but that is not always the case. I recall losing half of my team in a previous position due to position transfers and retirements. I was happy for my colleagues who excelled and moved on, as they were all deserving, but that left our department with limited support. With a core of four colleagues versus the eight that were initially there, we developed a newfound synergy that centered on a high level of respect as individuals and doing the best work that we could for our students.
How did you build your audience on social media?
As previously mentioned my brand is my work with a focus on first-gen and underserved groups. I try to leverage that as a vessel to share elements of my personality, life, and interests that also inform my work. This year I started curating content on my LinkedIn page I enjoy unpacking college-going and first-gen student narratives that exists in film and TV shows. I have colleagues across various disciplines who reach out to me about the monthly articles that I write as they are intrigued by the content or have seen the themes manifest in real life. Some of my favorite articles so far been character analysis of Tariq St. Patrick from Starz’s Power Book II: Ghost and Randall Pearson from NBC’s This is Us. Although fiction, there is a realness in their stories and in these shows that I thoroughly enjoy discussing.
There is always room for accomplishments and awards but what I enjoy the most is posting personal anecdotes and moments. Me coaching my son’s T-ball team or reflections about a family trip. I am not at the top influencer level by any means but a piece of advice that I can give that is pretty consistent across those who have major followings is to be genuine and be consistent. There is someone out there who may want to hear your voice, your story, or your ideas – Continue to push positive content out there and foster ways for those who do follow you to engage with you and add to the narrative.
Contact Info:
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jwinfield4
- Twitter: @jwinfield4
Image Credits
ESNTL Headshots