Dr. Vincent "Vince" Bowhay, President, Highland Community College
In this month's Heroes of Higher Ed, we meet Vince Bowhay, the 45th president of Highland Community College in Northeast Kansas. Bowhay is a leader powered by service, curiosity, and a relentless belief that higher education changes lives. On any given day, he is thinking about one thing first: how to help students reach the goals that brought them to college in the first place.
From open access pathways to community partnership, Bowhay describes Highland as a place where education is not just a credential, it is a catalyst for dignity, mobility, and stronger communities.
A Journey Built on Saying Yes to Service
Bowhay describes his path to the presidency as less of a straight line and more of a series of choices rooted in impact. Even as an undergraduate, he gravitated toward student-facing roles: student body president, student ambassador, and the person making sure others felt oriented and supported.
That throughline of service became even more personal early in life. Bowhay shared that he grew up with limited financial resources and lost his father at 15. In the absence of traditional mentorship, educators stepped in, believed in him, and helped shape his trajectory. That support sparked a lifelong desire to pay it forward.
Later, mentors encouraged him toward higher education leadership, and that guidance, paired with his own instinct to keep choosing student-centered opportunities, ultimately led him to a defining moment: during the pandemic, he was asked to step into a presidency. He said yes.
Leadership Lessons from the Pandemic and the Aspen Fellowship
Bowhay points to the pandemic as a turning point that reshaped him both professionally and personally. The responsibility was intense: keeping students learning safely, supporting staff, and making decisions in a moment when no playbook felt sufficient.
At the same time, he was selected as an Aspen Fellow, joining a cohort of college presidents receiving a year of mentorship and leadership development. The combination of high-stakes leadership and structured growth accelerated his approach to decision-making. He describes himself as still energetic and people-oriented, but quicker to take emerging issues seriously and to act earlier, because small problems can become big ones fast.
If He Had a Magic Wand: Make College Easier and More Affordable
When asked what he would change in higher education, Bowhay joked he would bring back his beard, then got serious: he would make college more affordable, easier to attain, and more widespread.
His perspective is shaped by the reality of who community colleges serve. Bowhay emphasized that community college students are not one demographic. They include:
- 18-year-olds starting their journey
- 26-year-olds trying to figure life out for the first time
- 40-year-olds returning for a second career
- Single parents rebuilding opportunity for their families
He sees community colleges as the engine for pathways to success, and one of the most direct routes to the middle class.
A Practical Case for Community College ROI
Bowhay acknowledges the "doom and gloom" narratives around higher education, especially amid the rise of short-term credentials and online alternatives. His response is inclusive: any education that helps someone advance, shift careers, or build a better life is worth celebrating.
At the same time, he makes a clear case for the value of community college. He shared a concrete outcome for Highland students: graduating from Highland Community College can translate into earning about $19,000 more than someone who stops at a high school diploma.
For Bowhay, that difference is not just a number. It is generational change. It is a family's trajectory shifting because one person made a manageable investment in themselves.
Education as a Civic Foundation
Bowhay also frames education as a pillar of democracy and community health. Beyond workforce outcomes, he believes education builds an informed citizenry, strengthens civic participation, and helps people communicate across differences.
His view is simple and urgent: when communities are facing complex problems, education is part of how we produce leaders who can solve them.
Why Highland: "Join Scotty Nation"
When asked what makes Highland special, Bowhay did not hesitate: "Everyone should be a member of Scotty Nation."
His pride is rooted in both personal connection and institutional identity. He attended classes at Highland as a high school student and has been invested in the community for much of his life. He describes Highland as the destination of choice for higher education in Northeast Kansas, with a strong base of community support and a rich history dating back to 1858, even before Kansas became a state.
He credits Highland's momentum to its people: talented staff, bright students, and a community that actively supports the college’s direction.
Defining Student Success: Did We Help You Achieve Your Dream?
For Bowhay, student success starts with access and the ability to succeed once a student arrives. But he does not reduce success to a single metric.
His core definition is personal: student success is whether the college helped students accomplish the goals they set when they chose to enroll.
That goal could be a credential, a transfer, a career shift, or a first step toward something bigger. He believes the work begins with an "intimate conversation" about what the student is trying to achieve, and it continues through faculty engagement, student affairs support, admissions guidance, and mentorship. The final question is not only "Did you finish?" but also "Are you set up for what comes next?"
Advice for Future Higher Ed Leaders: Listen Before You Lead
Bowhay's leadership advice is direct:
- Start with students always
- If a decision does not measurably improve access, success, or dignity for students, it is probably not the right goal
- Listen before you lead
- Use your listening to find who has been overlooked, then bring them into the conversation
He calls listening the most important skill a leader can build, and something he works to improve every day.
What Keeps Him Going: Curiosity, Connection, and a Little Diet Mountain Dew
Asked what fuels him, Bowhay joked: Diet Mountain Dew.
Then he explained what actually keeps him moving: curiosity. He loves meeting new students, learning about local businesses, engaging with community leaders, and connecting those relationships back to the college's mission. He sees himself as an ambassador not only for Highland, but for higher education as a whole. His aim is to help people feel seen, heard, and invited into the story of what education can unlock.
Looking Ahead
Bowhay is also practicing what he preaches about zest for life. His next trip is Puerto Rico, a first-time visit he is excited to experience, explore, and learn from.
For Highland Community College, that same curiosity and outward-facing energy shows up as momentum: deeper community ties, wider access, and a student success definition grounded in real human goals.
Because for Bowhay, higher education is not abstract. It is personal. And it starts with one question: how do we help you achieve the dream that brought you here?
