In this insightful episode of Candid Conversations on Leadership, hosts Candice and Chris welcome Jamelle Sharpe, Dean, Professor, and Guy Raymond Jones Faculty Scholar at the University of Illinois College of Law. Dean Sharpe shares a captivating account of his winding path to academic leadership, from his early days as an undergraduate student of literature, through the high-stakes world of investment banking at Morgan Stanley, to his distinguished career in legal academia. With wit, humility, and a deep sense of purpose, Dean Sharpe reflects on how each phase of his life shaped his views on leadership, collaboration, and public service.Dean Sharpe opens up about the transformative lessons he learned during his time on Wall Street—where 100-hour work weeks and lean teams fostered a culture of intense collaboration and accountability. He recalls powerful mentorship moments, including the mantra, “Nobody owns a monopoly on good ideas,” which has informed his leadership style ever since. His upbringing as a first-generation American from a West Indian family instilled in him a tireless work ethic and a deep sense of responsibility—values he now brings to the College of Law as its first African-American dean.The conversation takes a deep dive into his academic focus on federal administrative law, a field he passionately describes as central to human flourishing and societal collaboration. He explains how this often-overlooked area of law influences every aspect of American life, including higher education. Dean Sharpe also explores the current political climate’s impact on the federal administrative state and outlines how the College of Law is responding to challenges and opportunities in legal education, including the rise of legal technology and access to justice through potential non-JD legal practitioners.In the final segment, Dean Sharpe shares personal habits that keep him grounded, including a commitment to optimism and daily routines like making his bed. He even reveals a lifelong love of single-player RPG video games—culminating in his enthusiastic defense of Mass Effect 3 as the pinnacle of storytelling in gaming. He closes with powerful reflections on principled leadership, the courage to speak truth, and measuring success through the empowerment of others. Whether you're considering a career in law or simply want to become a better leader, this conversation is brimming with inspiration and practical wisdom.

In this heartfelt and wide-ranging episode of Candid Conversations, we welcome Dr. Robert Baird. Robert is the Senior Associate Director of Educational Partnerships at the Center for Innovation in Teaching and Learning (CITL) and an adjunct lecturer in the College of Media at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. With a background that bridges English, cinema, and cognition, Robert’s career has spanned Hollywood film editing, academic publishing, and over three decades of work in teaching and learning technologies. Known for his storytelling, curiosity, and deep commitment to mentorship and community, Robert brings both wisdom and warmth to the leadership table.

A long-time friend and campus colleague, Robert reflects on his unconventional academic journey from Oklahoma to Hollywood and ultimately to higher education, where he has spent over 30 years shaping educational partnerships and mentoring leaders at the University of Illinois. His stories, often infused with humility and humor, highlight the power of surprise and mentorship in helping people realize their potential.

Robert shares the pivotal influence of mentors who opened his eyes to the possibilities of academia and pushed him to evolve as a scholar and leader. From wrestling with dissertation advice to pivoting away from a tenure-track path, Robert offers honest insights into the values that guided his decisions. His leadership style—rooted in empathy, curiosity, and support—mirrors his years as a youth soccer coach and educational facilitator. He discusses how these personal experiences helped him coach emerging IT leaders on campus through the IT Leadership Workshop (ITLW), where his creative use of props—like pigeon books and redwood clippings—sparks unconventional thinking and analogies for leadership.

The conversation also delves into the evolution of educational technology, from the advent of email and learning management systems to the current wave of artificial intelligence. Robert speaks passionately about how AI challenges us to rethink what it means to be human and how students today are already engaging with it in complex and thoughtful ways. He highlights the value of writing, the importance of meaningful assignments, and how AI has exposed pedagogical practices that need to evolve.

Toward the end, Robert shares personal reflections on family, self-care, and the lessons learned from a career spent navigating change with compassion and creativity. From his philosophy on life balance—“family is the earth, and my career is a moon orbiting it”—to a candid admission of being afraid of heights, Robert remains as grounded as he is intellectually adventurous. His parting message is simple but powerful: if you’re grounded in empathy and love, you’ll be okay.

You can learn more about Robert Baird at https://www.linkedin.com/in/robertbaird3/

Hosts Candice and Chris are IT leaders at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and collectively have more than 50 years of experience working in higher education. Candice is currently the Senior Director of IT Partners at the College of Applied Health Sciences and Chris is the Chief Information Officer and Senior Director of IT Partners at the Gies College of Business.

In this episode of Candid Conversations on Leadership, we sit down with Cheryl Hanley-Maxwell, Dean of the College of Applied Health Sciences at the University of Illinois. With a distinguished career spanning decades, Cheryl has become a powerful advocate and leader in the fields of rehabilitation and disability services. A triple alumna of the University of Illinois, Cheryl also spent 26 years at the University of Wisconsin-Madison in various leadership roles. Her passion for inclusion, equity, and helping others thrive has shaped both her career and her leadership style.Cheryl shares how her path to leadership wasn’t something she planned, but rather something she stepped into out of necessity and conviction. From her initial reluctance to take on administrative roles to her realization during a sabbatical cancer diagnosis that her true strength lies in helping others succeed, Cheryl paints a vivid picture of what it means to lead with purpose. She speaks candidly about pivotal moments, such as becoming department chair amid complex dynamics, and how those experiences deepened her understanding of collaborative leadership.The conversation touches on Cheryl’s foundational values—doing no harm, recognizing the dignity in everyone, and always prioritizing listening. She discusses her advocacy roots, shaped during the civil rights era, and how her passion for justice and inclusion led her to special education and, eventually, academic leadership. Cheryl also opens up about the balance she strives for in her personal life, including how exercise and reading fiction, especially satirical mysteries, help her decompress from the demands of leadership.Looking ahead, Cheryl reflects on the future of health sciences education, emphasizing its growth post-COVID, particularly in areas like aging and public health. She underscores the importance of building strong teams and empowering others, reminding aspiring leaders to be self-aware, value-driven, and cautious not to barrel forward without considering those around them. Her wisdom offers a grounded, thoughtful perspective on leadership as a tool for collective progress rather than personal ambition.You can view all episodes of Candid Conversations on Leadership at https://candidconversations.link/