The best job you never planned to have:
Meet five board professionals at the Boston Tea Party

By Linda Dixon

This article is based on a panel presentation, “The Boston Tea Party: Liberating and Revolutionary Ideas for the Board Room,” at the AGB Workshop for Board Professionals, held on April 12, 2008 in Boston.

“I think two conclusions are clear,” said Linda Dixon while moderating a panel of seasoned board professionals at the recent workshop in Boston. “One, there is no single path to this job; and two, talent comes in many forms.”

Four board professionals from Brown University, Wellesley College, Northeastern University, and the University of Massachusetts joined Linda Dixon, Secretary of the Corporation at Tufts University, in a conversation in which they traced the career paths that led to their current jobs, described their strategies for mastering the skills needed and shared the things that keep them motivated and engaged. While no two universities or board professionals are the same, they found many common threads.

The positions have become more complex over time, requiring greater technical, planning, and interpersonal skills; more knowledge of the institution and its history; familiarity with ever more laws and regulations; and the endurance and ability to work in a fast-paced, instant-messaging, 24/7 environment. Many have seen their staffs grow from one part-time primarily clerical position to include several professionals.

Al Dahlberg, Secretary of the University at Brown, is a relative novice at the job and “still trying to figure out what my job is.” As a new person at the institution, he has found that it's important to learn the genesis of traditions; many, but not all, are sacred and shouldn't be changed. An attorney, he finds his past experience as deputy secretary of state and chief of staff in the Rhode Island legislature very helpful and feels his background in public policy was influential in his hiring decision. Al sees great similarities between moving an agenda through a board and getting a piece of legislation through Congress, and he is familiar with constituent relations in a high-pressure work environment: “It's important to keep them informed about what's going on, where no issue is too trivial,” said Al. “An important aspect of our roles is to be able to frame issues for the board so that they can make strategic decisions.”

In contrast to Al, Barbara DeVico has worked at the University of Massachusetts for 30 years. She remembers using a typewriter to prepare documents in 1978, when one of her main duties was to make copies and coffee for board meetings. Over the course of 20 years, her responsibilities steadily increased until she became secretary to the board in 1997. Today, trustees are more engaged, preferring, as is the case in most work environments, to communicate electronically. Her decades of experience and familiarity with policies and people allow her to support a board which is much more serious about its duties. Years ago, it wasn't unusual for a board member to send a representative to a meeting; no board member would consider doing that now.

Deanna Jantzen received her undergraduate and master's degrees from Northeastern and has been employed there the entirety of her professional career. She first worked in alumni relations and then with the law school's development office. Leaving briefly to care for her children, Deanna returned to her alma mater in 1988 on a consulting basis to help with a presidential search. At the time, the job of board secretary didn't even exist, and the university, with a new president and a new board chair, faced major enrollment and budgetary challenges. Her consulting relationship with the board worked so well that they created the position of secretary for her, and she is still there, 20 years later. At the board's encouragement and directive, Deanna earned a law degree in the process. A self-disclosed "process wonk," she believes strongly in good governance and is gratified that she has helped shape how her board office works.

Diane Kinch Corry was working as counsel and clerk to the board of directors for a Boston utility when she decided to answer an ad for a board secretary at Wellesley College. Unbeknownst to her, the board had recently hired an internal candidate who lasted only two months on the job. For the first time, trustees were willing to consider an outside candidate, and they regarded Diane's legal background as a plus. Diane remembers being anxious at her utter lack of historical memory of the institution. However, with staff turnover and a lot of hard work, Diane has found that “after 11 years on the job, I have become the institutional memory.” The job description was also expanded when it became apparent that Diane was capable of doing much more, at a time when demands for transparency in non-profits were increasing.

Linda Dixon was representing the Tufts University Alumni Association on the Tufts Presidential Search Committee in 1992 (and serving as Alumni President at the time) when the job of secretary of the corporation became vacant. While she was hired from the outside into this position, she considers herself a “hybrid” because of her close connection with the university as a graduate and her years of volunteer alumni service.

As the newest member of the group, Al had some excellent tips for learning the job. “Ask everyone you see,” he said. “Don't be afraid to meet with anyone or take advice from anyone. I'm always taking notes.” He also noted that a major part of his work wasn't included in the job description. “I see one of my main functions as maintaining the collegiality of the board. Good interpersonal relationships are critical to the good functioning of the university. 'Care and feeding' makes a difference. Initially, I didn't know I would be responsible for this.”

Working with boards has been very rewarding for all. Board professionals are part of the institutional fabric and are constantly challenged. Barbara has seen dozens of trustees come and go during her tenure, and she has the highest respect and regard for them. “They are why I stay,” she declared. “They work so hard. I get paid, but they don't. Really, I'm proud to be associated with them.” For Al, the world of higher education is an exciting, dynamic, intellectually stimulating environment. Linda is motivated by her deep loyalty to her institution and the feeling of being a stakeholder in its future. These board professionals know their work makes a difference for trustees and enables the board to do its best.

Linda Dixon is secretary of the corporation, Tufts University, and chair, Professional Development Committee, AGB Board Professionals Leadership Group.

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