“Value others’ opinions and perspectives”

Located in the heart of historic St. Charles, Missouri, Lindenwood University’s rich history enhances lives through quality education and professional preparatory experiences. Offering more than 100 degree programs in on-ground and online formats, Lindenwood’s faculty, staff, and administration focus on students' strengths, interests, and future. With nearly 200 years of experience teaching students to be knowledgeable, principled global citizens, the University has long been a leader in education.

The University’s 26th president, Dr. John Porter, leads the University with a rich background of industry experience, and his corporate sphere has helped Lindenwood University's mission. He has optimized university processes and activities with his business experience. Porter presented key stakeholders with a compelling vision and plan and believes in identifying skilled leaders. In turn, Porter has used what he has learned about leadership by putting solving problems first and being honest with the community.

Porter’s approach to dealing with criticism involves evaluating the feedback and adjusting accordingly when needed. "I strongly believe that none of us have arrived at our full potential as leaders," Porter said. “We all have the opportunity to learn. I didn’t start on my Doctorate at Johns Hopkins University until I was 55, but I love to learn, and that means being open to others’ opinions and perspectives.”

Under Porter’s leadership, Lindenwood University acquired ITEN, the Innovation, Technology, and Entrepreneur Network that fosters aspiring startups in the tech ecosystem. ITEN’s established pathway supports budding entrepreneurs from ideation to market entrance. ITEN is based in the greater St. Louis area, but it recently got a grant to help entrepreneurs in rural Missouri. This makes the institution's reach wider.

"Lindenwood is actively responding to the changing landscape of higher education and adapting to the needs of all learners," Porter said. “We are working to become a data-driven institution. Using real-time data from AI models and dashboards, we can better inform our judgments. Our Lindenwood University students are the driving force behind everything we do. Learners in our on-site, hybrid, and online programs have certain needs and expectations that we want to meet.”

Coming from the corporate environment, Porter understands the competition in the market and is focused on differentiating Lindenwood from other entities. "We have brought in software that gives us data which shows how we compare to competitors on key metrics.,” Porter shared. "We have plans in place to not only meet the level of where our competitors are performing but to raise the bar and outperform in key areas.”

The strength of an organization is based on healthy growth, and in the competitive higher ed ecosystem, differentiation is key. “Our five-year strategic plan, Lindenwood 2026, is based on aggressive growth, both in student enrollment and revenue," Porter said.

“As an institution, Lindenwood University has worked hard to provide the best student experience possible. We think about challenges from a student’s perspective. If a student is in line for a financial aid challenge, how do we make that a great experience? How do we make it the best experience possible when a student goes to eat on campus? The university has a strong culture centered on the idea of Q2 – two questions to ask. What do you need, and how can I help? By focusing on this Q2 culture, we are doing our best to ensure that every student counts and knows they are valued as part of our Lindenwood community,” Porter added.

In addition to a strategic focus on the students and employees of Lindenwood, Porter believes in the power of civic engagement to enhance the educational experience. “Our community extends beyond the physical campus and into the community in the city of St. Charles. As part of our strategic plan, we are working to form 100 partnerships with businesses, school districts, and local groups to provide value-added services that are good for both sides,” Porter said.

Lindenwood University is positioned to adapt to learner requirements, fill gaps in higher education, and engage students. The university's ability to take data-backed risks that benefit students and employees is a major accomplishment.

Beginning this fall, Lindenwood University Athletics will compete at the NCAA Division I level. This transition aligns with the university’s growth strategy and will give students, employees, alumni, and the community a greater experience. Competing at this level will also drive the Lindenwood brand nationwide, as stated by Porter.

Lindenwood partnered with two companies to create micro-credentials that benefit both parties. An international corporation has partnered with our university to provide flexible online learning utilizing their intellectual property. We've also built a certification program in exercise and nutrition for a US-based company's employees.

The university is on the rise and has its eyes on the future. “It's our goal to make Lindenwood the next great student-centric university, which includes reinventing higher education," said Porter. IE