Hudson: 'We're much more powerful when we work together'

Building leaders that create an idea-rich environment, being a faculty and student centered university and engaging with the community were the fundamental ideas Tim Hudson presented to the open forum at the Cooper Alumni Center on Wednesday.

Hudson, currently the vice chancellor of the Texas Tech University system, was the second of three candidates to visit the ASU-J campus as a prospective chancellor.

A native of southern Mississippi, whose wife is from Huntsville, Ala., Hudson said his family's visit to Jonesboro "felt a little bit like coming home."

"We love west Texas, but it's still not the south," he said. "It's been a real joy to learn about this community and this institution."

Hudson received his Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Southern Mississippi in history and Latin American studies. It was an international study experience that inspired Latin American studies as an undergrad, and two more degrees in geography to follow.

He talked about his passion for international studies, and the fact that communities like Jonesboro are the kind many international students want to experience. He called it "the heartland American experience."

On the topic of research, brought up during the question and answer session, Hudson said he believes scholarship is fundamental to the growth and success of an institution.

"How do you teach at the university if you're not an active scholar?" He said. "Ultimately, the students are the beneficiaries."

Hudson went on to talk about the importance of shared governance, and that while it may sometimes be "a bit cumbersome," it is necessary.

"We're much more powerful when we work together," he said. "It's fundamental for the way we take ideas and put them into the classroom."

Hudson said he believes improvements can always be made, and shared governance is a catalyst to making those improvements. He jokingly used an analogy about his mother's cooking to get this point across.

"Aside from my mother's cornbread, almost everything can be improved somehow," Hudson said.

He explained his passion for teaching leadership, because he believes by building leaders institutions can combine students' aspirations with practical outcomes.

"We're all dream weavers, in a sense," Hudson said.

He talked about an old quote on the leadership of NBA legend Larry Bird, which said, "he's a great leader because he makes everyone around him the best they can be."

Hudson said those are the kinds of leaders he wants to create.

"I want to create an idea-rich environment, where people can share ideas," he said. "It's up to a leader to set a tone that encourages that environment."

Hudson also commented on the opportunity he sees in ASU to let the community around it be really involved in what's going on at the university.

His wife, Deidra, got up to say a few words on her involvement in what he does, which is to be involved in the community with their three children.

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