Higher Learning Commission

Valencia “Kaye” Monk-Morgan has spent most of her professional life learning and practicing community engagement, strategic planning and leadership, first at Wichita State University and today as head of the Kansas Leadership Center, a nonprofit organization fostering skills and community in Wichita. Now the Student Success Academy mentor is sharing what she’s learned over nearly 30 years with HLC and its members – and the sky’s the limit on where the experience will take Academy participants and her own career.  

When and how did you first learn about accreditation?  

I became familiar with accreditation by way of my work at Wichita State University where I had been director of federal TRIO programs for many years. Contributions made by these programs were part of the institution’s argument for accreditation. I began to learn more about accreditation as assistant dean of Wichita State’s College of Liberal Arts and Sciences where specific programs had specialty accreditation and where faculty members, including myself, were actively supportive of university-wide accreditation efforts with HLC. I continued to be involved in accreditation in a variety of Wichita State administrative roles including assistant vice president for academic affairs, interim vice president for regional engagement and vice president of strategic engagement and planning.  

How do you explain your work with HLC to people who aren’t familiar with accreditation?  

My work with HLC "helps universities examine current practices to inform future activities with the goal of operational excellence."  

Why did you want to get involved with HLC?  

I was an accreditation liaison officer at Wichita State from 2017-2020.  The experience allowed me to engage with HLC in support of the work of the institution. I knew that one of the best ways to learn something is to teach it.  It also became clear to me that working with HLC would be a great way to build my skills and help others. I became an HLC Advancing Strategy Faculty Member in 2021 and an HLC Student Success Academy Mentor in 2022. These roles helped me to connect colleagues at Wichita State and other universities to HLC’s Criteria.  Because of these experiences, I have learned a lot about accreditation and have been able to translate information for the benefit of others.  

What aspects of your background have been particularly helpful in your work with HLC?  

As I had mentioned, I have had a variety of university roles and experiences in a career spanning nearly 30 years. My academic credentials include a bachelor’s degree in chemistry and business, a master’s degree in public administration and a doctorate in educational leadership, all from Wichita State University. I also started my own business as a coach for professional speaking and facilitation services and most recently had been chief impact officer and am now the new president and CEO of Kansas Leadership Center, which offers leadership development programs and training. These experiences have given me a unique viewpoint on how offices, people and functions intersect, which has been very helpful in my work with HLC. 

What have you learned from working with HLC that’s been beneficial to you?   

I've learned a great deal more about university administration. Also, my appreciation has grown for university officials who do the work of guiding our institutions of higher education. It's been interesting for me to observe the connections between HLC and the U.S. Department of Education, such as the work done during the pandemic, which was critical for our industry. HLC offered guidance that was timely, well-informed and much needed, and I am happy to be working with an organization having that kind of impact.  

What has been one of your most memorable experiences working with HLC?  

My most memorable experience is usually my last one and HLC’s recent annual conference comes to mind. I had just left the university and was making the transition to a new role as president of the leadership center. It was wonderful to be able to present during the conference at a strategic planning workshop with Michael Boyd, who is president and CEO of Kankakee Community College and an HLC peer reviewer. I also loved that I was able to reconnect with so many professional contacts and to learn about and have conversations on issues that our industry is involved with today.  

How do you find the time to volunteer with HLC?    

My initial response is, "I don't know,” but I would say that I make my work with HLC a priority, just as serving on boards – such as the Boys and Girls Club of South Central Kansas, Emprise Bank, the Kansas African-American Art Museum and the Council for Opportunity in Education  – have been important. In the case of HLC, I see my service as an investment in my career and a part of my personal growth. It informs my knowledge of current higher education events, trends and future innovations. It also gives me ideas and inspiration for doing my job and for potential personal career options going forward.  

When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?  

I had big dreams! I wanted to be a city bus driver, a teacher, then a basketball player, a lawyer, followed by a chemist. I'm still not sure what I want to "BE." I have gotten clearer on what I want to contribute to the world, which is to help others in working toward continuous improvement for the betterment of society and the common good. HLC gives me a conduit to do that.  

 What is your greatest career or life achievement so far?  

My greatest life achievement has been successful co-parenting with my husband of our children who are now young adults. Payton is an IT portfolio manager at a large manufacturing company and a graduate student. Cameron is an integrated marketing associate. They are caring, compassionate and connected human beings who are making a difference in their own careers and communities, and we are very proud of them. I also am an auntie to four nieces and five nephews and love to spend time hanging out with my three siblings. My greatest career achievement is the work I’ve done with my TRIO students over 20 years and the subsequent experiences and successes that these 584 students have had. To know that I've had a little impact on the students who I served and that they are achieving success based on their personal definitions is my greatest reward.  

 What’s your favorite part of being a member of the HLC community?  

My favorite part of the HLC community is the many professionals who come together to support learning. Higher education professionals are dedicated to their students, their academic disciplines, and their communities. The work of higher education is for the common good. I love being part of an organization that supports that type of work and builds that type of professional.