Stronger Together: Leadership, Purpose, and the Power of Community Colleges with Dani Walker
Episode Description
In this episode of Exponentially Elevate Your Leadership Impact, Dr. Stephanie Duguid welcomes Dani Walker, Director of Institutional Effectiveness and Accreditation at Louisiana Delta Community College, for an inspiring and transparent conversation about leadership in higher education, authentic impact, and the deep purpose behind community college work.
Dani shares her leadership journey beginning with her college sorority presidency, where she first learned that leadership is not about popularity — it’s about responsibility, courage, and doing the right thing even when others may not agree. She opens up about the mindset shifts, mentors, and lived experiences that shaped her unique leadership style, firmly grounded in authenticity and a “wear your own shoes” approach.
Together, Stephanie and Dani explore leadership impact, self-awareness, and the power of “we-based” decision-making in organizational success. Dani shares the grounding habits that fuel her productivity — waking up at 4 AM, exercising before sunrise, and carving out quiet time to center herself before the workday begins. They discuss motherhood, marriage, sharing responsibilities at home, and embracing the strengths that women leaders often downplay — such as multitasking, emotional intelligence, and organizational excellence.
The conversation deepens around community colleges as life-changing institutions. Dani and Stephanie share powerful stories of second chances, prison education programs, adult learners rebuilding their futures, and the ripple effect of accessible, high-quality pathways that help students rewrite their economic and educational trajectories.
Dani also shares her SACS accreditation journey — stepping into uncertainty, building an institutional effectiveness department from scratch, and leading cross-departmental teams with clarity, communication, and positivity. She reframed accreditation from a fearful process into an opportunity for institutional growth, collaboration, and excellence.
This episode is a compelling reminder that leadership in higher education is personal, purposeful, and profoundly impactful. It’s about staying true to who you are, embracing challenges as growth, and leading with both backbone and heart.
🎧 Listen now: https://www.drstephanieduguid.com/podcast
Guest Info:
Dr. Dani Martin Walker
Dani Walker is the Director of Institutional Effectiveness and Accreditation at Louisiana Delta Community College with 10 years of experience in higher education. Specializing in effective organization, curriculum, and accreditation, Dani uses that experience to maintain accurate policies, effective procedures, and SACSCOC accreditation for Delta.
By focusing on trends in higher education, more specifically the community college, Dani has been able to put her Doctorate in Higher Education from Texas A&M Commerce to good use.
Dani’s strengths have garnered some recognition in being nominated for and participation in Leadership Ouachita in 2021, receiving the Northeast Louisiana Top 20 Under 40 in 2022, and nomination and participation in Leadership Franklin in 2023. While Dani spends her days at Louisiana Delta Community College, it’s the students that LDCC serves that gets them up in the morning.
When she isn’t at Louisiana Delta Community College, Dani loves spending time with her husband, Wade, who works as a crop consultant most weekends and her two children, Preston (6) and Celia (5), who love to be outside and into everything!
Guest: Dr. Dani Martin Walker
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/dani-martin-walker-edd-b7068213b
Host: Dr. Stephanie Duguid, Owner, Do Good Leadership
Website: www.drstephanieduguid.com
Facebook (Personal): https://www.facebook.com/stephanie.rectorduguid
Facebook (Group): https://www.facebook.com/DoGoodLeadership
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephanie-duguid/