As a leader in higher education, Adler University President Raymond Crossman, Ph.D., has long embraced the responsibility of addressing social inequalities.

And today, he is in good company. Much like earlier eras in the 1940s, 1950s, and 1960s, communities are looking to colleges and universities for perspective and leadership about matters of the day. Dr. Crossman weighs in on the evolving role of higher education leaders in his recent Trusteeship magazine piece, “Why Speaking Out Matters.”

“Today we seem to be entering a new cycle for the voice of higher education presidents, and I do not believe it is partisan to observe that this is a function of the drumbeat sounding from Washington, D.C.,” he states. “Over the past year, 200 college and university presidents signed a letter asking the Trump administration to speak out against harassment, bullying, and violence; 235 presidents signed a letter regarding climate action; and more than 700 presidents signed a letter in support of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program and undocumented immigrant students.”

The rejuvenated activism, Dr. Crossman contends, is in response to contemporary challenges to human rights.

“I believe, too, that our public statements should be governed by the restraint that our great privilege as leaders and educators demands, as well as by the purpose of higher education to advance conversation that is civil and informed by evidence,” he said.

Trusteeship magazine is a publication by the Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges centered on higher education trends, issues, and practices aimed at helping board members better understand their distinctive and complementary roles.

Read Dr. Crossman’s full Trusteeship piece to gain insight into some of his own advocacy decisions to carry out Adler University’s mission of advancing social justice.