Higher Education

Leading an Innovative Liberal Arts College in Challenging Times with Dr. Patricia Okker

Dr. Patricia Okker is the President of New College of Florida, the innovative honor’s college in the Florida system. She joins host and New College alum Mike Palmer to talk about what makes a New College education unique and how a liberal arts education can prepare you for the world of work and community engagement. Note: this episode was recorded in December prior to the recent appointments to the Board of Trustees.

We hear Pat’s origin story, beginning in New Jersey before spending many years at the University of Missouri where she was Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences before joining New College as President a year and a half ago. We learn how folks are reimagining New College through The Challenge before digging in on career pathways and entrepreneurship among other topics.

It’s a thought-provoking conversation about the future of higher education that you don’t want to miss. Look for more from us on the New College story as it develops.

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Episode References

Ceballos, A., & Jeffrey Solochek. (2023, January 6). DeSantis seeks conservative overhaul at Florida liberal-arts college. Miami Herald. https://www.miamiherald.com/news/politics-government/state-politics/article270852507.html
Lapovsky, L. (2022, November 28). A Liberal Arts College’s Unique Approach To Planning For The Future: The New College Challenge. Forbes. https://www.forbes.com/sites/lucielapovsky/2022/11/28/a-liberal-arts-colleges-unique-approach-to-planning-for-the-future-the-new-college-challenge/