Pamela Eddy Honored for Pioneering Leadership at William & Mary and Beyond
In the months leading up to her retirement on July 1, Associate Provost for Faculty Affairs and Development Pamela Eddy was honored with the 2025 Outstanding Leadership Award from the American Council on Education (ACE) Women’s Network of Virginia. The award recognizes Eddy for decades of scholarship and her transformational impact on leadership development in higher education. It celebrates her contributions not only to William & Mary but also to leadership education across the nation.
“Pam has been an outstanding leader, mentor and friend to the W&M community,” said Provost Peggy Agouris. “Her humility and wisdom are matched by a deep personal warmth and a genuine commitment to leading with integrity and building community. She set a powerful example of leadership that brings people together in pursuit of a shared academic mission. I feel privileged to have worked alongside her.”
When accepting the award, Eddy recounted an inspirational story her grandmother once told her. As a young woman, Eddy’s grandmother taught in a one-room schoolhouse in Western New York. One morning after finishing her farm chores, as she was saddling her horse to ride to the schoolhouse, it bit the top of her head. At this point, said Eddy, most people would likely call it a day. But her grandmother was undeterred: she wiped off the blood, climbed onto the horse, and went to work.
“I think of that image often when I think of tenacity, perseverance, and what it means to get up and show up at work every day, always remembering you’re doing this in service of others” Eddy said.
That legacy of strength and determination has defined Eddy’s own path as a nationally-recognized scholar, mentor and leader at William & Mary. After 17 years of service, the university is celebrating both her contributions and the thriving leadership programs she helped launch. Under Eddy’s leadership and in close partnership with faculty and staff from across campus, William & Mary has built a distinctive portfolio of leadership development programs designed to cultivate inclusive, intentional leadership at every career stage.
That ecosystem took root in 2021, during the height of the pandemic, when Eddy co-developed “Modern Leadership: Reflections and Tools for the Values-Based Leader.” The course, created in partnership with Director of the W&M Washington Center Roxane Adler Hickey M.Ed. ’02, Ed.D. ’23, became a timely offering in a moment of uncertainty, inviting faculty, staff, students and community members to think deeply about how leadership should adapt to a rapidly changing world.
“Pam’s example continues to shape my own commitment to cultivating values-driven leaders through the W&M Washington Center and beyond,” said Adler Hickey. “We’re proud to build on her legacy by preparing students and professionals alike to lead with integrity, lift others through service, and launch into lives of impact. Leadership isn’t a title; it’s a mindset — and thanks to Pam, it’s one we’re nurturing at every level.”
Now offered regularly through W&M Washington Center and Studio for Teaching & Learning Innovation (STLI), the Modern Leadership course includes guest interviews with alumni in public service and national security, weekly reflections, and tools for ethical decision-making and communication. It is open to alumni and the general public, significantly expanding the university’s reach.
From that foundation, W&M launched a suite of other leadership programs designed to meet the needs of faculty and staff at key points in their professional development. Two notable examples include: “Exploring Leadership,” a cohort-based program for early-career professionals that supports new leaders in identifying their values, strengths and goals; and the “Mid-Level Leaders Program,” which targets faculty transitioning into leadership roles and focuses on organizational awareness, change management and relationship-building.
The leadership programs are rooted in scholarship, informed by W&M values and responsive to the evolving demands of academic and civic leadership. More than 300 people have participated since 2021, and interest continues to grow.
While Eddy formally received the award during the Network’s annual conference in May, the celebration began earlier this spring when colleagues surprised her with the news during a W&M event celebrating participants from all four leadership programs. Surrounded by university leaders, colleagues and friends, Eddy was called to stage by two of her nominators, Adler Hickey and Vice President for Student Affairs Ginger Ambler ’88, Ph.D. ’06, P ’24, both members of the ACE Women’s Network Virginia Board.
“Being here with you, to me, is the best gift — because a few years ago, none of this existed,” Eddy said in her impromptu thank you remarks. “Having studied leadership my whole career, it is such a gift to see leadership in action. As you go forth on your leadership journeys, I encourage you to think about what kind of change you can make. It may be seemingly small, but you can make a difference, and you can bring others along.”
Over her career, Eddy served on the advisory council for ACE in its development of the 2023 American College President Survey, was an invited leadership expert to the ACE Innovation Lab for parity in the college presidency, and facilitated the Moving the Needle Summit in Washington, D.C. She also provided service to the Michigan and Virginia ACE Networks.
As an educator and mentor, Eddy left an indelible mark on the W&M School of Education. She taught 19 different courses across doctoral and master’s levels — many of which she developed — and chaired over 75 doctoral dissertations. Her excellence in teaching and mentorship earned her the 2024 W&M Flourishing Award and the 2023 ASHE Mentoring Award. Her leadership and service to the university and the profession have been wide-ranging and deeply impactful, culminating in a legacy of scholarly excellence, institutional growth and mentorship.
Just like her grandmother who climbed back on the horse after being bitten, Eddy has spent her career showing up with purpose and perseverance — leading by example, lifting others, and leaving a legacy that will strengthen leadership development at the state and national level for years to come.