and inclusive style of leadership. I’m not afraid to be the
people who are going to be the future of our country ought
leader. I’m not afraid to make decisions when tough
to be fun. It ought to be a happy experience for faculty, for
decisions have to be made. But I’m disinclined to make them
administrators, for students, and I intend to have fun and
on my own, without input from people, particularly in times
I hope that everyone here at Longwood has fun.
like this where educational institutions are challenged in monetary and other ways.
Not every day is going to be a blast and there will be some faculty members who are saying as they’re grading
You have to get, not only input from people but you have to
100 exams, ‘I thought the president said this was going to be
get buy-in from people and allow them to speak their piece
fun.’ Well, not every day is going to be like that but overall
because, first, they may have great ideas you hadn’t thought
the experience and the opportunity to work with bright,
of. Second, even if they ultimately disagree with parts of the
talented, aspiring young people ought to be fun. And we
decision at least they’ve had their say and they will feel a part
ought to make it fun for them, as well, and I think there’s
of the organization.
some great ways to do that.
Woodley: What nuances will your military experience bring
Woodley: What do you view as your own strengths
to your presidency at Longwood?
as a person, and as a leader?
Finnegan: I go back to that original saying. I really do think
Finnegan: The ability to work with people, the ability to
that leadership in the military, for me, and leadership here, is
bring people together, and having a sense of humor about
about people, it’s about caring for people, it’s caring more
things, which helps in tough times, and, I think, a genuine
about what they want to accomplish, what they aspire to,
interest in others. And a passion for education, because
and what the organization does than about yourself.
I think it’s the key to the future of our country.
This university is not about me. It’s particularly about the
Woodley: What about weaknesses?
students who are here and the focus should be on them. But it’s about having all of us work together to give the best
Finnegan: I probably try to do too much, sometimes, and
education inside the classroom and outside the classroom to
I have to be careful about that, not getting involved in too
the students. And so I think that’s organizational leadership
many things because I know there’s going to be an awful lot
that is similar to the military and that is it can’t be self-
of demands on my time and I’ve tried to learn, over time, to
focused, by me or faculty members or anybody else. You try
delegate authority and delegate responsibility and let other
and set the goals and visions of the organization. I’ll tell you
people do their jobs.
these because they’re part of my philosophy and staff and faculty and students and everybody else is going to hear
My wife will tell you I’m a horrible procrastinator. I try to
these repeatedly for the next several years. Two parts of my
overcome that, as well. And, I don’t know if it’s a weakness
philosophy, anyway, and my philosophy, certainly, at West
but it’s something I’m going to have to keep an eye on, and
Point was that our main focus always has to be on providing
that is I have spent my entire life essentially in the military.
the best education for the students who are here. And that’s
I grew up in a military family. My dad was in the Army.
educating them in the classroom and morally, ethically,
I went to West Point and I’ve been in the Army since and
physically.
so I have not worked or been in what is a fairly completely
That’s part of it, but to provide them the best developmental
there I’m not aware of, that what may seem normal to me
civilian environment before and so there may be traps out educational opportunity and that’s whether we’re thinking
is going to seem strange to other people. But I’m going to
what’s the next building project we’re going to do, the
be careful about that to make sure I’m being sensitive to
fundraising we’re going to do, or whatever it is, we have to
those issues
keep in mind that our main focus is students. If we do that, you’re not going to get off track as much. So that’s one.
Woodley: Who, within your own realm of personal experience, has most effectively demonstrated leadership –
The second part of my philosophy is this ought to be
how and why?
enjoyable. Education should be a joyful experience. It’s not a grim business we’re in. At times, right now, it’s a challenging
Finnegan: There’s a man that I worked for almost two years,
business because of money, but, overall, education of young
General Bill Garrison, who’s become a little bit famous
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