Dr. Christine Johnson

Dr. Christine Johnson McPhail is the president and CEO of The McPhail Group LLC and a nationally recognized thought leader in higher education. She is the founding professor and director of the Community College Leadership Doctoral Program at Morgan State University. Dr. McPhail is the former president of Cypress College in California. She currently serves as a professor of practice at Kansas State University in the John E. Roueche Center for Community College Leadership Development. She is a Certified Associate for Emergenetics International, which helps organizations, ranging from small businesses to Fortune 500 companies, achieve desired results including increased efficiency and improved communication through solutions centered on the Emergenetics Profile and tools.

Dr. McPhail has over 40 years of experience in higher education, serving as a leadership coach, consultant, professor, administrator, and president. She has authored and co-authored several books and articles on topics such as leadership development, organizational change, equity, and student success. She is the recipient of numerous awards and honors, including the American Association of Community Colleges (AACC) Leadership Award, the National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development (NISOD) Excellence Award, and the AACC National Leadership Award.

Dr. McPhail believes that leadership is a process of influencing others to achieve a common goal. She says, “Leadership is not a position or a title. It is a mindset and a skill that can be learned and developed. Leadership is about creating a vision, inspiring others, and empowering them to act. Leadership is also about being accountable, ethical, and authentic. Leadership is not easy, but it is rewarding and fulfilling.”