Dr. Kyra launches new Leading Forward blog series

March 9, 2026  |  By Kyra Shahid
Part of the "Leading Forward: Leadership Insights with Dr. Kyra" blog series

Knowing who you are makes who you are worth knowing.

This idea has guided my work for decades as I have sought to recover my own dreams and help create pathways for others to achieve theirs in higher education.

As leaders and educators, we teach who we are, and we lead from our vantage point. I have been fortunate to learn alongside leaders who helped me find my voice, shine my own light, and navigate terrains that were not always built with my success in mind. Their example reminds me that leadership is not only about position, it is about perspective, courage, and clarity of purpose.

In these times of new beginnings—when communities unite and old boundaries give way to fresh collaborations, I find myself reflecting even more deeply on what it means to lead. Whether you’ve been connected to Trotter, MESA, both, or are joining us as we move forward together, this blog is a space for shared growth, introspection, and connection. 

Here, we will explore what it means to lead with integrity, to build differently, and to remain committed to the ongoing work of self-discovery and self-authorship in times of both peril and promise.

I invite you to journey with me as we navigate the present and imagine the future we want to create.

— Know who you are. Then Lead Forward.

Dr. Kyra

P.S. You can read the first blog post now!