Dr. Tamara Daniel's Path to Leadership

 Dr. Tamara Daniel was motivated through a series of events and her desire to transform lives to enter her role as Butler's president. 

As a first-generation student, Dr. Tamara Daniel’s parents always told her it was important to go to college.

“They never really helped me connect my career to the classes I was taking. They simply did not have the experience to guide me in that way,” Daniel said.

She earned her B.A. in psychology and later completed a M.A. and Ph.D. in mathematics at the University of Mississippi. While initially focused on theoretical mathematics, a question from a faculty member during her dissertation work shifted her perspective.

“He asked me why I was spending so much time and energy solving a problem that someone else had not solved, instead of making that kind of difference in the lives of people,” Daniel said.

“That question has always stayed with me.”                                                                      

Dr. Tamara Daniel, President of Butler Community                                                                                                                                       College (Photo by Butler Marketing)

Daniel believes a community college should be deeply embedded in the region it serves. That includes preparing students for local careers, supporting business and industry and welcoming community members onto campus for more than fine arts or athletic events.

“The community college should be heavily invested in the community and in business and industry, and likewise, the community should be invested in the college,” Daniel said.

Daniel emphasizes that Butler’s open access model creates opportunity for students from all backgrounds, whether they plan to transfer to a university or enter the workforce through career and technical education.

“That is the beauty of Butler Community College,” she said. “We meet students where they are, no matter where they are starting, and help them succeed.”