Huntsville Living Difference Makers Edition 2022 | Page 18

18 | HUNTSVILLE LIVING | DECEMBER 2022

Dr . Alisa White

Dr . Alisa White is the prestigious head of Sam Houston State University . But she is far more than many locals may realize .
Dr . White was born in Texas , but her family moved to Montana when she was 5 and subsequently lived in Arizona , West Virginia , and Tennessee before I finished high school .
“ My dad ’ s work resulted in a transfer every few years . My parents went to college when I was young ,” Dr . White said . “ My brother and I benefited from going on field trips , to museums , libraries , archives , and such . When we traveled , Dad would stop and pick up a tumbleweed or boll of cotton to study , and we would look at rocks and clouds as we rode down the highway . It was a wonderfully rich educational experience .”
Dr . White said her family had a spirit of adventure that she still has today .
“ My parents were tremendous influences on me . My dad had a series of work assignments that were increasingly challenging , and he started each by studying and learning all he could about the new role , the environment , the challenges , and the people . He taught me to do the work to prepare myself for whatever assignment I had . My mother had a gift for hospitality ,” Dr . White said . “ People from all over the world stayed in our home regularly . I often slept on the sofa because our company would need my room . I met people from different backgrounds with different cultures , customs , languages , and experiences that helped me form many of my perspectives today .”
Dr . White achieved her master ’ s and Ph . D . from the University of Tennessee , and her bachelor ’ s degree is from Lee College ( now University ) also in Tennessee .
“ Dr . Rick Osburn was my first provost at the University of Texas at Tyler , and he led with emotional intelligence and humor . He stayed true to his personality , regardless of the environment ,” Dr . White said . “ He was an authentic communicator who accepted and included many types of people in his circle . He built a big tent and established expectations that people would work together .”
Dr . White is a big believer in paying attention to doors that are opening , and her choice of career was a function of walking through an opening door to take advantage of opportunities she never knew would come .
“ My approach to work has always been to try to solve problems
wherever and in whatever capacity I served . Consequently , leaders would tag me and pull me up to take on new challenges ,” Dr . White said .
When asked what was the life-defining change that shaped her into the person she is today , Dr . White confidently answered when she decided more than 30 years ago to make a personal commitment to Christ . “ I ’ ve never been the same ,” Dr . White said . And what about her philosophy on life ? “ Life is a team sport ,” Dr . White said . “ I can ’ t have every skill or know everything , and don ’ t have to . I surround myself at work and in my personal life with people who want to do good things , and we work together .”
Most of Dr . White ’ s days are spent in meetings and most evenings attending events . She depends on her communication skills - listening , speaking , and writing .
“ It ’ s also critical to be able to handle the day-to-day challenges , but to find time to consider and plan for a university to thrive now and in the future . Quantitative skills can ’ t be overlooked . We ’ re an educational enterprise , but the health of the enterprise depends on a healthy balance sheet . I work with strong , capable people and try not to get in their way as they do their jobs ,” Dr . White said . “ While I ’ m responsible for the overall university , it would be a disservice to micromanage people who are well capable of handling their work . I could list many more desirable skills , but I will end with this one : The ability to put things into perspective is needed to manage the stress of leadership and to lead in times when others are stressed . It is the responsibility of a leader to instill confidence in the organization . The university is a community of highly intelligent people who can unite to solve problems . I ’ ve got the equivalent of a think-tank at my disposal , so I don ’ t panic when tough times come .”
The most challenging aspect of Dr . White ’ s role is her responsibility to do what is best for the institution , not always what may be best for one person , and that can be difficult .
“ Staying focused on mission and the impact on students makes difficult decisions easier . The other big challenge is logistical . It ’ s not possible to be everywhere at once , and I inevitably must balance competing priorities , opportunities , and responsibilities ,” Dr . White said . When she isn ’ t managing , communicating , and solving problems , Dr . White finds her way to the beach .
“ It ’ s my happy place . I also love to play games ; I come from a long line of competitive people . My grandmother started playing Yahtzee with me when I was about 5 and continued well into her 90s ,” Dr . White said . “ I play games with my family , including my dad who ’ s almost 88 and our youngest school-aged grandchild , who ’ s 7 .”
When asked what she would change about herself , Dr . White reflected like many of us would .
“ I would have been more patient and forgiving with my younger self . I have gotten better over the years ,” Dr . White said .
And that last meaningful question about where she would live if she could live anywhere - Dr . White said with a loving smile - “ with my dearest friend and husband , Elliott , wherever he is . We love Huntsville and are grateful to be here . It ’ s a good life .”
- Written by Brenda Poe
18 | HUNTSVILLE LIVING | DECEMBER 2022