A Conversation with Cathy Cox, President of Georgia College & State University

Introducing President to Parent (P2P)

If you have followed Beyond the Group Text for any amount of time, you know I care deeply about helping parents make thoughtful, confident decisions in the college process.

Over the past few years, as I have toured campuses with my boys, I kept having the same thought: You can find campus size, academic offerings, and student life in seconds online.

But you often have to opt in to meet the president and experience the essence of the leadership. And that feels like such a shame.

Colleges and universities are wildly different, even if we attended one ourselves. There is a tone, a culture, a personality, a vibe you feel when your feet are planted on campus.

Leadership shapes that.

And yet, unless you are physically there for a tour or special session, you rarely get to see or hear from the person setting that tone.

So I decided to launch something new.

President to Parent (P2P)

President to Parent is a new series inside Beyond the Group Text where I sit down with college presidents and leaders for a real conversation.

This is not a list of fast facts you can find online or a polished marketing pitch.

But an interaction so you, dear parents of future college students, can get a sense of who is leading the campus your child may one day call home.

It matters who the head of culture is.

You might hear a name on a tour. You might read a quote on a website. But rarely do you get to see their likeness, hear their tone, and observe how they think.

I believe that matters.
I think you will enjoy it.
And I think you will remember it.

Episode One: A Conversation with President Cathy Cox

I am so grateful to President Cathy Cox of Georgia College & State University for going first and taking a chance on this brand new idea.

That willingness is completely on brand for her. She leads with accessibility, warmth, and a genuine belief in students. If you follow her, you know she shows up personally, including her now famous campus selfies.

I hope you enjoy watching it as much as I enjoyed talking with her.

If you would like to learn more about Georgia College & State University, you can visit their website here:

https://www.gcsu.edu

You can also follow President Cathy Cox and her campus updates here:

https://www.instagram.com/gcsupresident

If you are a parent who has ever thought, “I just wish I could hear directly from the person running the place,” this series is for you.

And if you are a college leader who believes parents deserve transparency and access, I would love to talk.

More conversations coming soon.

President to Parent.

Because sometimes the most helpful perspective is simply one parent sitting across from someone who cares.