A peer-to-peer discussion with Dean Emeritus of the Lee Business School at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas.

🎙️In a profoundly candid and essential discussion, details his harrowing experience during the December 6, 2023, active shooter incident and the critical decisions he had to make as a leader in the immediate aftermath. This episode moves beyond a tragic recounting to offer invaluable lessons on crisis leadership, communications, and community recovery that are vital for all university and academic leaders.

Listen in as Sanders opens up about the terrifying first few minutes—the immediate need for a robust, practiced communication tree, the surreal nature of the event, and the realization that he and his team were among the intended targets.

“Everyone's locked down in place, and we remained that way for quite some time with very little information. We were sequestered in a room that had no visibility over to the business building,” said Sanders

Following the immediate threat, the challenges pivot to long-term leadership and community healing. Dean Sanders describes how the culture of the college changed, necessitating a careful balance between enhancing security (like classroom auto-locks and fob-controlled access to faculty offices) and maintaining the ethos of an open academic campus.

“The main thing is to actively reflect empathy for those who have physical and psychological well being needs first understanding that there's a wide spectrum of reaction to these kinds of events,” said Sanders.

From the complex nature of crisis management to the enduring need for empathy, Episode 66 is a must-listen for university and academic leaders grappling with preparedness and community support.

#crisiscomms #academicleadership #DeansCounsel

Photos courtesy of Gerard Sanders and UNLV.

Read more about Gerry Sander here.