Respect: Interview with Dr. Eileen Holden of Polk State College
Since becoming president of Polk State College seven years ago, Eileen Holden has led the institution on an amazing path of growth.
PSC has added three bachelor’s degrees and two locations in Lake Wales. It’s adopted a new brand — Soar, Eagles! — and is preparing to open its Advanced Technology Center in Bartow next year.
Even with all that growth and all she’s accomplished, Holden remains true to what matters most: the students.
Here, Holden explains her path from classroom teacher to college president, her passion for helping students achieve life-changing higher education, and her dreams not only for the college but the entire community.
Name: Eileen Holden
Age: 57
Family: Husband, Al Holden
Resident of: Winter Haven
Work/professional history: Prior to becoming president of Polk State in 2006, Holden was vice president for academic affairs at Broward College and dean for academic affairs at Palm Beach State College.
What has been the most meaningful aspect of your career? I have always felt that there is nothing more honorable or important than serving as a classroom teacher, a role I had early in my career. That experience has certainly shaped everything I’ve done professionally in the years since. However, I would be quick to say that my “favorite” job has definitely been the one I have now. I feel as though everything I learned and experienced before coming to Polk prepared me to be a useful part of the team we’ve built here. We impact so many lives on a daily basis, and I truly feel like we are changing the future, one graduate at a time.
What organizations have you participated in and why? I have participated in literally dozens of local, regional and national organizations — too many to name here. Some of them relate to my own personal interests, but the vast majority are a way for me to help build connections between the college and the communities we serve. Each board or committee or club with which I’m involved provides me with more knowledge and more relationships that will help shape our work here at Polk State. The time commitment is considerable — but so is the value we create for the students we serve. And, frankly, I think it’s important for me to model a level of community engagement that we expect at Polk. Not everyone will end up serving in the number of capacities that the College president serves, but we can all invest our time, talents and passion in our communities!
What sorts of challenges have you encountered in your community work efforts and how did you overcome them? Early on, I was probably most frustrated by the attention some folks put on the so-called “East-West divide” here in Polk County. I’ve now served this region long enough to understand the history and causes of that dynamic, but I’ve also come to believe that we can and will transcend any divide with a shared vision, and I’m incredibly proud that the growth and achievements of Polk State are a key part of that shared future for Polk County. As we say at the College: “We are Polk!”
What gives you inspiration? It may sound cliché, but the reality is that every time I hear a story about the challenges our students are overcoming on their path toward academic success, I am reminded why I do what I do — and why I love it so much. Hardly a day goes by without this sort of inspiration: our students are phenomenal, and their stories become the stories of their families and communities. The ripple effects are amazing! I also take a huge amount of inspiration from the incredible teamwork that I see every day, making those success stories possible: our dedicated faculty and staff, our proud alumni, our generous donors and literally thousands of “boosters” throughout Polk County make my job “the best job in the world.” That’s inspiring!
What do you love best about living in this community (Polk Co.)? I think the obvious answer would have to do with the wonderful people here and our perfect location, right in the middle of so much action. I absolutely appreciate those factors. But I think one of the things that fires me up about living in Polk is the opportunity that each of us has to be truly relevant. Our region is at a critical juncture in its history, and the decisions we make will matter not just to us but to so many others. It’s an exciting time to live here and to get to do what we do.
What are your hopes and dreams for our area? I want us to realize our potential. It’s that simple. And I believe that we will do that.
What are your business and personal goals? The long answer to this question would involve walking you through Polk State’s Strategic Plan. The short answer would be that I am very focused on nurturing the momentum that we have built at Polk State. We’ve seen dramatic, unprecedented growth, and as our enrollment stabilizes, we’ll look for ways to keep enhancing the relevance and the quality and the effectiveness of what we do. On a personal level, I want to keep taking every opportunity I get to tell the story of our students and the opportunities we, as a community, can provide them to succeed.
Outside of work and community efforts, what activities do you enjoy? I enjoy “down time” with family and friends. I love taking advantage of the amenities we have here in Polk County — the shopping, restaurants and fun diversions like LEGOLAND Florida. I am also an avid reader, and I enjoy opportunities to pause, reflect… and recharge. I don’t do it quite as much as I might like, but I also enjoy travel. I’m a huge believer in “lifelong learning,” and every new experience brings an opportunity to learn new things.
Favorite quote: “My grandfather once told me that there were two kinds of people; those who do the work and those who take the credit. He told me to try to be in the first group; there was much less competition.” – Indira Gandhi