Teresa Lubbers
Indiana Commission for Higher Education
"Don't look around wondering whether you're better or worse than the next person because it's not about that-it's about what you want to do."
Career Roadmap
Teresa's work combines: Education, Government, and Accomplishing Goals
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Day In The Life
Skills &
Education
Here's the path I took:
High School
Warren Central High School
Bachelor's Degree
English Language and Literature, General
Indiana University-Bloomington
Graduate Degree
Public Administration
Harvard University, Kennedy School of Government
Here's the path I recommend for someone who wants to be an Education Administrators, Postsecondary:
Bachelor's Degree: English Language and Literature, General
Graduate Degree: Public Administration
Learn more about different paths to this career
Life & Career Milestones
My path in life has been direct
1.
Went to college to become a teacher
2.
Worked in city government during college which made me realize I wanted to make a difference on the policy side of education
3.
Worked on a successful political campaign and ended up in Washington, DC
4.
Developed a relationship with a US Senator who became a close friend and mentor that inspired me to continue a career in politics/government
5.
Went back to school to pursue my Master in Public Administration (MPA)
6.
Started a public relations (PR) firm
7.
Ran for state senate and won
8.
Offered the opportunity to be the Commissioner for Higher Education in Indiana
Defining Moments
How I responded to discouragement
THE NOISE
Messages from Society in general:
People always told me that you learn from your successes, leading me to be reluctant to take risks or to understand that you also learn from setbacks.
How I responded:
You learn just as much - if not more - from your setbacks in life, so don't be afraid to take risks and don't be afraid to fail. In high school I ran for student body president and lost. As a result of this failure, I didn't run for office again until I was 40. I came to realize that I'd rather try and come up short than not try at all. I also wanted to be a good role model for my daughters about persistence and thoughtful risk-taking.
Experiences and challenges that shaped me
I sought out mentors who helped encourage and coach me so that I could continue to grow personally and professionally. These relationships are what created the experiences that led to my career path.