Join Mark Maxwell, President of Prairie College, as he shares the inspiring story of how a struggling campus culture was transformed into a thriving, engaged community. In this conversation with Al Lopus, Mark reveals practical leadership lessons on building trust, valuing employees, and multiplying impact in Christian higher education.
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In this episode:
Facing a Culture in Crisis
Mark stepped into a campus culture marked by mistrust, mediocrity, and financial strain. (04:23)
Early signs of struggle included:
Poor attendance at prayer gatherings (8–12 people). (07:45)
Faculty disengagement and negative campus morale. (05:26)
Financial losses of $1 million per year. (04:13)
The turning point came with clear priorities and a focus on the college’s “core knitting”—teaching the whole Bible to every degree-seeking student.
Building Trust and Healthy Communication
Listening was the catalyst: Mark practiced active listening, repeating back what he heard without always agreeing. (18:04)
Collaborative decision-making with the management team fostered trust, emphasizing harmony over unanimity. (19:18)
Feedback groups and open-door availability gave employees confidence that leadership cared about their voice.
Shift from control to influence: Giving up some control created greater engagement and buy-in. (38:40)
Engaging and Valuing Faculty and Staff
Mark considers faculty and staff his primary “clients”, believing engaged employees create the best student experience.
Practical culture-building initiatives included:
Monthly family meetings with 10-minute culture talks. (23:23)
The “You Rock!” award recognizing exceptional contributions. (22:10)
Creative potluck awards (cowbell, ladle, salad tongs) to turn dreaded events into community highlights. (31:28)
Campus-wide prayer meetings grew to 50–60 attendees, strengthening spiritual unity. (34:08)
Leadership development and training:
Participation in the Global Leadership Summit. (22:45)
Crucial Conversations training for all employees. (23:10)
Leadership and Decision-Making Principles
Character – integrity, work ethic, and teachability (26:19)
Competence – skill in one’s role (27:24)
Chemistry – relational kindness and team fit (27:23)
Calling – the spiritual cushion that sustains long-term commitment (25:54)
Attitude is everything: A negative attitude is “infinitely harmful” to culture and effectiveness. (26:24)
Weighted input, not unanimity: Opinions are heard and weighed, but decisions favor the person closest to the issue.
Impact on Students and Organizational Health
Spiritual and cultural revival on campus:
98% affirm the mission “To know Christ and make Him known” (36:05)
96% say they love God more deeply while at Prairie (36:20)
94% say being a student at Prairie is enjoyable (36:27)
Financial turnaround: From a $1 million deficit to a $1 million surplus, with donor support growing ~50%. (34:24)
Bible curriculum redesign to seven core courses covering the entire canon became a signature distinctive, resonating with parents, pastors, and donors. (42:42)
Key Takeaways for Leaders
A crisis is a God-given opportunity to:
Express faith
Clarify priorities
Make swift, necessary changes
Influence grows as control decreases—availability and trust-building matter more than rigid professionalism.
Culture change is contagious: When leaders value employees, employees multiply impact for students and the broader mission. (42:00)
Read a complete, word-for-word transcript of the episode
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Email our host at al@workplaces.org