By Michelle St. Onge, Photo by Jessica McCafferty
Hometown: Chicago, Illinois
Family: Mother and five siblings
Occupation: University administrator
Education: Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Philosophy; and Master of Education in Higher Education and Student Affairs Administration, both from the University of Vermont. Currently pursuing a doctoral program through the University of Saint Francis in Joliet, Illinois and a Certificate of Restorative Justice from the Vermont Law and Graduate School
Allison Heard and her five siblings grew up on Chicago’s south side in a close-knit family that valued religion and education. Her parents demonstrated that commitment by enrolling their children in Catholic schools for as many years as possible. The long-lasting impact of her upbringing continues to unfold today, as Heard remains active through virtual technology in her “church home” in Chicago and is midway through the daunting process of earning a Doctorate degree.
Where education was concerned, Heard and her siblings learned at an early age that graduating from high school was mandatory “Once we turned 18, we knew we would have to fend for ourselves,” she reminisced. Beginning with babysitting at age 12, Heard worked odd jobs wherever she could. When it was time to graduate, she decided to try a path that no one else in her family had ever taken — college. “I was working so much that at the time I thought college might be more relaxing than working every day,” she explained, “It wasn’t long before I realized that college is hard, too!”
Moving from inner city Chicago to Burlington, Vermont for college was just the beginning of Heard’s exploration of diverse cultural experiences that formed the foundation of her career in higher education. She flourished in college where she spent a year studying abroad in Austria after an intensive immersion studying German. Heard continued directly into graduate school after receiving her Bachelor’s degree, and then moved back to the Midwest to work in multicultural and international affairs in higher education. Prior to accepting her current role as Vice President of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at SUNY Plattsburgh, she served as the Director of Institutional Diversity & Title IX Coordinator at the University of St. Francis in Joliet, Illinois.
Heard warmly shared her story and insights with Strictly Business during a recent interview.
SB: What important lessons did you learn early in your career?
AH: Early on in life, I learned the importance of finding work that aligns with your values. My parents were very clear that they expected us to take care of ourselves as adults. I realized that steady employment was critical for me, and I also knew that I did not want to have to choose between my values and a place of work. It’s important for me to work for an organization that aligns with my values.
SB: How does your current work keep you aligned in your values?
AH: I think we live in a world today where we are missing the human connection. We don’t always see how our successes are attached to someone else’s successes. We have no problems with other people’s children dying, yet we want our own kids to succeed. Education is critical to help people see the bigger picture. Everything that aligned to make me a better person came from going to college. I didn’t learn a lot in high school about the richness of culture. When I went to college, it opened my eyes to so many different cultures, and with that came an appreciation for the value of human dignity, and respect for others. You don’t have to go to school for the degree — at the end of the day when we die and leave this earth, we don’t take the degree with us. Working in education is important to me partly because of the value it brings to humanity beyond the piece of paper and the degree.
SB: What is something that no one would guess about you?
AH: I’m really into bringing spaces to life through decorating. I love both interior decorating and outdoor spaces. I recently moved to Plattsburgh from my home in the Midwest, and it took me some time to realize that I needed to grieve the loss of certain spaces in my home that brought me so much joy. We lost my Dad while I was living there, and that place is where I had some of my last memories with him. There were outdoor spaces where I could go and just listen to the birds. I love to create spaces that come alive and bring me, and other people, joy.
SB: Who is one of your most influential mentors?
AH: The Pastor of my church, who was responsible for giving me the first scholarship I received. It wasn’t a huge scholarship, but it was the first time I realized that when someone puts money toward your education, they are making an investment in you. It motivated me when times got hard. I was so far from home and family, and there were days when I was incredibly sad. I didn’t want to burden my Mom and family, and my church and Pastor were very supportive.
SB: What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?
AH: My dad always told me, ‘When you get to where you’re going, never forget where you came from.’ That is super important to me. I have lived in many places, so I have many connections that I try to keep alive. We still have our childhood home, and when I go home for visits there are still people there who recognize and greet me, even though many years have passed. I believe I am my neighbor’s keeper, so I try to be a friendly person and value my connections in the communities I am a part of.
SB: If you could talk to your younger self, what advice would you give her?
AH: I would tell her that she didn’t have to choose between family and career — it’s possible to have it all. I came from a very traditional household where the path to success was prescribed: first you finish high school and go off to college or work, then get a good job, meet a nice man, get married, and have some kids. I didn’t have role models to show me any other way, so it was clear to me that I had to make a choice. I decided I wanted to have a career, and what that meant at the time was that I had to sacrifice those other things. Looking back now I realize that sacrifice wasn’t required.
SB: When you’re having an off-day, what helps get you back on track?
AH: Just like a car needs fuel or an oil change, my spiritual practices keep me focused and tuned up. On a lighter note, I also love a good Sangria. It is one of those things that can put me right back in my perfect happy place whenever I need it.
SB: Tell us about your approach to management and leadership?
AH: I’ve been growing in my leadership walk through the doctoral program I am enrolled in. It is focused on educational leadership and stewardship, and I am learning a lot that’s helping me to grow even in my current position. My leadership focuses on the service I can give to the community that I’m serving. In this case I am serving not only students and employees but also the community and the taxpayers, because we are a state agency. I am also a person of my word. I listen to people to find out what is important to them, and when I agree to help them, I keep my word.
SB: What are you most proud of professionally?
AH: I am most proud of the return on investment I have given to the people who believed in me, and thought that I could become something great. The return on their investment is expressed in my core values. I’m proud that I tell the truth, even when people don’t want to hear it, or when they don’t agree. I am proud of myself when I raise my hand and provide a different perspective that values other people and helps them to see a bigger picture.
SB: What do you think the North Country community needs to do today to make sure that we’re prosperous in the future?
AH: I really don’t like it when I hear people saying bad things about Plattsburgh. There’s a lot to love about Plattsburgh. Just like a flower doesn’t grow when you don’t make the effort to water it, you won’t see the benefits of your community when you don’t put effort into that community. Everybody wants to see some significant growth and change here. We want to see growth, but we’re not seeing enough people willing to water and to till the soil. I’d love to see more of us giving back to Plattsburgh.
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