A splendid award from the Council of Independent Colleges

November is turning out to be quite a month.

Here I don’t mean for the world.  The world is definitely having a major November, especially in the US.  We’ve seen a major national election in the United States, a booming pandemic in America and Europe, and more.  No, today I mean November for me, personally.

Earlier this month I was honored by an Association of Professional Futurists award for Academia Next.  The APF deemed my most recent book to be one of 2020’s Most Significant Futures Works.  It was a great honor.

Now it’s not even December yet and another award has come my way.

I’ve written about the Council of Independent Colleges previously.  CIC is a 64-year-old association of nearly 700 private American campuses.  For example, in 2015 and 2016 I described their innovative inter-campus humanities seminar collaborations.  In 2016 I noted their hosting a fine, radical discussion for college presidents.  CIC brings together folks to think hard, network well, and get things done.  They do important, good work.

So I was truly delighted to receive the 2020 Council of Independent Colleges Academic Leadership Award last week.

They announced it thusly:

Bryan N. Alexander is the recipient of the 2020 Academic Leadership Award for his visionary scholarship and creative contributions to digital learning and pedagogical innovation.

Since the event was virtual, I recorded a video acceptance:

I am indeed honored and humbled by this award.  The recognition from academic leaders tells me my unusual work is of value to those thoughtfully guiding campuses through hard times.

I also love that the award text draws attention to networking and communities.  These people are why I do this work, and the reason the work can succeed.  That includes you, dear reader, reading and sometimes writing back to this blog.

Thank you, CIC.  I wish you and your affiliated institutions the very best 21st century.  I hope I can help you to the best of my abilities.