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“Mac Powell has written a must‑read for every trustee, president, and system leader committed to strengthening higher education governance. His stories illuminate not only how boards succeed, but why they falter—and what disciplined, mission‑aligned leadership truly requires. This book is an essential resource for anyone who believes governance is both a responsibility and a calling.”

 Ross A. Mugler, President. Association of Governing Boards

We’ve all heard “data tells, stories sell.”  The Good, The Bad, and The Board is the perfect compilation of anecdotes that illustrate both the good and the bad in board governance.  Dr. Powell’s engaging and clear writing style, together with a compelling group of examples that illustrate key points of board governance, make this a must read for college and university board members, regents, trustees and senior leaders. 

Allison Garrett, Former Chancellor for the Oklahoma State System of Higher Education

“Mac Powell's book on the missteps, unforced errors and simple bad luck that afflicts many governing boards is a must read for trustees, presidents and anyone else concerned with the challenges facing higher education. It offers 'from the field' lessons in what boards should do, and more importantly what they should not do in their attempts to lead and support leaders of the nation's colleges and universities. You will thank yourself for reading this timely, concise and poignant guide to good behavior and trustee effectiveness.”

Terrence “Terry” MacTaggart. Former Chancellor at the University of Wisconsin-Superior, the Minnesota State University System, and the University of Maine System

“In today's polarized politics, the role of higher education boards becomes more difficult and more important.  Mac Powell has combined his knowledge with his astute insights into how boards can survive and thrive today.  This book is more than a nice read.  It is an essential guide for every member of a college and university board.”

Steve Gunderson, Former Member of the U.S. House of Representatives (1980-1996) and Former President of Career Education Colleges & Universities

“Mac Powell’s compelling new book takes a hard look at real stories of mistakes, disarray, and bad behavior in college and university board governance.  For boards having problems, this book will let them know they are not alone, and suggest ways out of their various predicaments.  For boards  functioning well, this book will help them stay that way.  It is full of engaging musings by presidents and trustees who have been on the front lines of governance and lived to tell about it.  They do so with wisdom and grace.”

Kevin P. Reilly, President Emeritus, University of Wisconsin System

“Drawing on his extensive and varied experience within higher education – as three time college president, as accrediting agency president, as board member, and as consultant to boards – Dr. Powell offers precious insights and wisdom distilled into practical advice and illustrated by lively stories of what can go both wrong and right. 

Ralph Hexter, Former President of Hampshire College and Former Provost & Interim Chancellor of University of California, Davis

“I read The Good, The Bad, and The Board and had flashbacks of my tenures serving as a member and the chair of numerous nonprofit and paid position boards. Moreover, I recalled my time as the board chair when Mac Powell was hired and served as our university president.

During that board experience, I saw firsthand how Mac navigated the complex, often fragile relationship between a hired, managing president and a challenging and outspoken volunteer board.

As clearly articulated in his book and as I witnessed him as university president, Mac possesses a combination of candor, fairness, diligence and compassion for students and the people who teach, advise and serve them. In my experience, board governance conversations can descend into a debate about the role and responsibilities of board members versus that of paid leadership, which can result in conflict, blame, or defensiveness. Mac approaches governance conflicts and questions carefully. He clearly describes boardroom behavior and change opportunities with humility, optimism, and a deep belief that institutional governance can be altered for the better. This book reflects Mac’s clear-eyed, thoughtful, and relentless focus on what matters most in educational board governance: the students.

Read the book. And if you ever find yourself in the middle of a governance storm, call Mac. You’ll never regret it.”

Sam Anderson, Former University Board Chair and Former CEO of the Master Builders Association of King and Snohomish Counties

“What sets this book apart from the typical board governance publications is President Powell’s willingness to share the lessons that are usually only whispered in private: the importance of humility, the dangers of overreach, and the necessity of clear boundaries between governance and management. As someone who has served in multiple roles in higher education, the stories and confessions ring true: the awkward moments, the crisis calls, the challenge of balancing loyalty with candor.

If you’re looking for a guide that will help you avoid the common pitfalls, ask better questions, and build a board and management culture of trust and accountability, this book is a must read. The advice is honest, practical, and rooted in real experiences.”

Tia McNair, Author of “From Equity Talk to Equity Walk: Expanding Practitioner Knowledge for Racial Justice”