The podcast episode honors Dr. Cheryl Green, who passed away on April 23, 2025, after serving as President of Governor State University for four years. Dr. Green, a passionate educator with over 30 years of experience, received numerous accolades, including the Outstanding Commitment in Education Award in 2023 and the Women in Excellence in Education Award in 2024. In her speech, she emphasized the importance of education in building character and changing history, urging educators to stay committed despite challenges. She highlighted the profound impact educators have on students' lives and called for a system where educators are valued and supported.

SUMMARY KEYWORDS

Cheryl Green, educator conference, diversity equity inclusion, Governor State University, student retention, non-traditional students, community service, education awards, counseling psychology, Chicago Public Schools, educator retention, Nelson Mandela, Margaret Mead, student support, educational impact.

SPEAKERS

Amy Vujaklija, Cheryl Green, Joi Patterson

This podcast episode is dedicated to the memory of Dr Cheryl Green, who passed on april 23 2025 Dr green retired from Governor State University less than two months earlier, after four years as president, she gave this speech at our second annual educator conference on june 13, 2024, Dr Cheryl green will be deeply missed.

Do you understand the power of education to open minds, to build character and to change the course of history.

Welcome to our podcast, teaching and leading with Dr Amy and Dr Joi I am Dr Amy Vujaklija, Director of Educator Preparation and

I am Dr Joi Patterson, Chief Diversity Officer, our podcast addresses issues through the lens of diversity, equity and inclusion, along with solutions for us to grow as educators.

So join us on our journey to become better teachers and leaders. So let's get into it. Dr Cheryl green is the sixth president of Governor State University and leader of the Jaguar family. Her professional experience in higher education spans more than 30 years more recently, she served in various executive leadership capacities in the University of Wisconsin System and at Tennessee State University. Dr Green is a passionate educator, and we know this because we have interviewed Dr Cheryl green on a few occasions, who fiercely believes in the power of education to change lives. She has pioneered the innovation of academic enrichment opportunities in student success initiatives that promote increased retention and graduation rates for first generation and non traditional college students. Her commitment to making a difference is evidenced by her service to the community, which spans the United States and has included serving on numerous advisory boards or boards of directors. In 2023 she was the recipient of the Outstanding commitment in Education Award by the Illinois State Treasurer, and presented with a resolution by the Cook County Board of Commissioners for her accomplishments as the first African American woman to lead the University. Dr Green was also yes please. Dr Green was also named a 2023 business leader of color by Chicago united in 2024 Dr Green was acknowledged by Illinois State Comptroller, Susanna Amy Mendoza, as a distinguished Women's History Month honoree for her personal and professional accomplishments, most recently, Dr green received the women in Excellence in Education Award from Chi lambda lambda chapter, Omega sci fi fraternity incorporated at their annual Women of excellence awards luncheon. Dr green holds a PhD and a master's degree in counseling psychology from Southern Illinois University in Carbondale, Illinois. She obtained her bachelor's degree in psychology from Manchester College, now Manchester University in North Manchester, Indiana, originally from Chicago. Dr green is the loving mother of two adult children who constantly keep her inspired to believe in the worth and potential of all human beings and to make a difference in the world.

Welcome Good morning. Thank you to everyone who's here today. It's an honor to be here with all of you. I'd like to welcome any state legislators, all of the Education Advocates, administrators, faculty and even our future educators. Thank you for your commitment to our schools and to our students, and I want to thank Dr vujakkula for giving me that introduction. But what was left out of that introduction is at is that I am a proud Chicagoan, a native Chicagoan, and a graduate. Part of the Chicago Public School System. So I understand from a personal and the professional perspective the journey of educators we are convened here today to address the most critical issues facing education. That is, how do we support and retain the incredible professionals who dedicate themselves to nurturing the minds and the hearts of our youth, our educators, administrators, counselors, social workers, psychologists, nurses, speech pathologists and so many others, they are the life blood of our schools, yet far too many have left the field too soon, worn down by stress, lack of support, financial pressures, public policy conflicts and other issues, but amidst The challenges, I want to take us back to our why? Why did you, each of you, answer the call to education? Because I am sure you had some other calls, right? But you answered the call to education, and the other question is, why, not only did you answer the call, but why do you stay despite the long hours, the emotional toll, I wager it's because you know the profound difference that just one caring adult can make in the trajectory of a child's life, all of you know the profound difference one educator made in your life. Correct? Yes, because you believe as they believed in the potential of every student, regardless of background or ability, and because you understand the power of education to open minds, to build character and to change the course of history. I every time I speak publicly, I try to quote Nelson Mandela. He's one of my heroes, and he said that education is the most powerful tool you can use to change the world, and I believe that I live by that. So I want you to think back to what first sparked your passion for the field of education. Maybe it was an inspiring educator from your childhood whose impact that you still carry today. Let me see a show of hands of people who were impacted by somebody in their childhood, and you still feel the impact of that person today. Okay, that's at least 85% of the room. Maybe it was seeing that light bulb moment in a struggling student's eyes when a concept finally clicked in maybe it was hearing from a former student, and I know I can testify to this about how your support gave them the resilience and the courage to face adversity and to continue on their journey. Those moments are the magic behind education. That is the sacred work that we do every day. So as we grapple with the complex issue of educator retention today, I encourage you to stay anchored, stay convicted in your deeper purpose, and remember that the effects that you have are ripple effects. The young lies forever altered by your presence. Remember that, and I'm going to close with another quote by someone famous, Margaret Mead, the famous anthropologist. She said. Said, Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has. In this room. There are world changers and our students need you now more than ever, so I want to thank you for showing up for our students every single day. Thank you for believing in not only their limitless potential, but in yours. And thank you for fighting to create schools where every educator is valued, supported and empowered to do their best work on behalf of students together, all of us can build an education system worthy of our students and educators.

Thank you for listening to teaching and leading with Dr Amy and Dr Joi. Visit our website at G, O, v, s, t.edu/teach, amy.edu/teaching and leading podcast. To see the show notes from this episode,

we appreciate Governor State University's work behind the scenes to make publishing possible. Stay tuned for more episodes with Dr Amy and Dr Joi.