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ModernThink Presents: Quick Hits & Key Insights

Join ModernThink Consultants to gain instant insight into the most effective strategies gleaned from The Great Colleges to Work For© program.
We’ll provide you with concise tools and resources to leverage your survey findings and engage others in taking action.

August 14, 2025

Leading and Supporting Your Team in Uncertain Times

In today’s rapidly evolving higher education landscape the pace of change continues to quicken and much of it is externally driven. Uncertainty is no longer the exception—it is the rule. Campus leaders cannot prevent disruption but must develop the skills and strategies to lead through it.

This fast-paced session will briefly explore shifts in the nature of change and the resulting psychological impact on individuals. We will then share proven leadership practices that can be used to lessen anxiety. As anxiety decreases, morale and the ability to engage in productive work increase. Participants will leave the session better equipped to meet the challenges of the current moment.

Meet The Presenters:

Fredricka Joyner, PhD,
Senior Consultant

Dr. Fredricka Joyner is a Senior Consultant at ModernThink LLC, a management consulting firm that specializes in organization culture, employee engagement and workplace equity. She is passionate about building tools and processes that clients can use to gain the insight from data necessary to take effective action. Collaborating with leaders and teams on culture development is at the core of her practice.

Fredricka’s resume includes more than 20 years in academia; three decades in business consulting for companies in both the for profit and non-profit sectors; published work in numerous journals and national and international conference presentations. She speaks on a variety of topics and often customizes presentations to meet specific client needs.

Richard K. Boyer,
Chief Culture Strategist

Rich is a founding partner of ModernThink LLC, a management consulting firm that specializes in organization culture, employee engagement and workplace quality. ModernThink co-founded the Great Colleges to Work For® program in partnership with The Chronicle of Higher Education and has determined over fifty other “Best Place to Work” programs across the country.

As ModernThink’s top subject matter expert for the Great Colleges program, Rich is widely regarded as a national thought leader on workplace quality within higher education. He has co-authored the 2009 – 2019 Higher Education Workplace Trend Reports. Rich has also been a featured speaker and/or panelist at the following higher education conferences: NACUBO (National Association of College and University Business Officers); ACE (American Council on Education); AAC&U (Association of American Colleges and Universities); CUPA-HR National; CUPA-HR-Regionals; NCCI (National Consortium for Continuous Improvement in Higher Education); and the Rural Community College Alliance.

Busola Oyinlola,
Consultant

Busola is a consultant at ModernThink LLC, a management consulting firm that specializes in culture, employee engagement and workplace quality. Busola’s experience and passion is in helping organizations develop their potential and is complemented by her extensive background in helping individuals and teams understand workplace dynamics.

As an organizational development consultant, Busola has a deep-rooted commitment to enhancing workplace cultures, increasing employee engagement, and championing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. With a passion for making organizations more inclusive and empowering employees to thrive, Busola has dedicated her career to fostering positive change within businesses of all sizes and industry, including healthcare, tech, higher education institutions, finance and retail.

Previous Session

How to Get the Most Out of Your Participation in the Great Colleges To Work For Program

Now that you’ve decided to participate in The Great Colleges to Work For Program, it’s time to address how you get the most out of your experience. Join us for a deep dive into the “How” of getting the most out of your survey experience. In this session, we will walk through essential components of an effective communication strategy. We’ll share strategies to enroll executive support as well as the sponsorship of key stakeholder groups. We will provide best practices related to maximizing response rates, especially among faculty. And we’ll share insider tips how recognized institutions leverage the honor of being recognized as one of the best workplaces in Higher Education.

Here is the link to Register for the 2026 Great Colleges Program.

Previous Session

Thinking About participating in the Great Colleges to Work For Program? Here’s What You Need to Know!

Are you curious about the Great Colleges Program? Has your institution considered participating but hasn’t yet thrown your hat in the ring? Join our upcoming session to learn about the methodology of the program, the basics of participation as well as the decision points you should consider to make an informed choice of whether or not it’s right for your institution.

In this session, we will provide an overview of the program, review eligibility requirements, introduce the two-part assessment, discuss what it takes to be recognized, and talk through the potential pros and cons of participation.

You will learn how the Great Colleges Program can support your efforts to engage faculty and staff in meaningful ways and support related strategic initiatives related to your ability to attract and retain top talent and cultivate a culture of engagement, respect and innovation. Do not miss this opportunity to understand the many benefits of participating in the Great Colleges to Work For Program.

Key Takeaways:

  • An understanding of the history and methodology behind the Great Colleges to Work For Program.
  • The basic requirements (time, money, resources) involved in participating
  • The pros and cons of participating
  • The value of being recognized in the program

Here is the link to Register for the 2026 Great Colleges Program.

Previous Session

What You Need to Know About Participating in the Great Colleges to Work For Program…An Insider’s Guide: The Nuts and Bolts of Participation.

Whether you are new to the Great Colleges Program or simply preparing to throw your hat in the ring again, this session will walk you through everything you need to know about participating in the Great Colleges to Work For Program.

We’ll review the registration process, the timeline and key milestones, the two-part assessment process, the sampling methodology, oversampling and survey customization, and report and benchmarking options.

You’ll leave this session with a full understanding of the nuts and bolts of participating in The Great Colleges to Work For Program so you can make an informed and strategic plan on how to put your best foot forward.

Here is the link to Register for the 2026 Great Colleges Program.