For Connie Ledoux Book, leadership is about the capacity to make change. This is a task she emphasized as the Associate Dean of the School of Communications and one she brings to her new role as Associate Provost of Academic Affairs.

“You’re not necessarily the person in the front, but you provide people with a place to exchange good ideas, and when the consensus is that it’s a good idea, [then] you work toward empowering them with the resources to make it happen,” Book said.

Book is someone who has always sought out the opportunity to lead, because she enjoys building things. She enjoys being a part of change.

“I get a lot of energy from seeing things materialize into events or departments or programs,” Book said.

But Book gets the most energy from her students. She loves being their cheerleader and reminding them that they have what it takes to make their dreams a reality.

“There’s no question,” Book said. “The best part of this is when you see a student take advantage of an opportunity that you helped create that fundamentally changes their professional or academic life.”

Her students are not the only ones who view Book as a prime example of leadership. Her fellow faculty and staff members look up to her as well. Ross Wade, Assistant Director of Career Services for the School of Communications, said Book is the best supervisor he has ever had.

“I really respect and appreciate all that she takes on and how she handles it and the way she interacts with

people,” Wade said. “That’s something I strive to be like as well – straightforward, intelligent, fair, thinking big picture. She’s really innovative as well. She has a lot of the qualities that I value in a leader.”

Book’s own leadership infl uences range from Elon President Leo Lambert to Jack Stanley, a Time Warner executive.

“(Jack Stanley) has been very infl uential in teaching me great lessons about people, about the power of second chances, about not backing people into corners, about knowing when to fold, just important leadership lessons,” Book said.

But one of Book’s favorite leaders is a fi ctional character from Jean Auel’s novel “Clan of the Cave Bear.”

“The story follows a woman named Ayla, and Ayla is awesome,” Book said. “She invents the sewing needle, learns to ride horseback, cultivates a garden, all during the clan of the cave bear times. I remember reading that and thinking, ‘Whoa, what a leader!’”

No matter how many leadership positions Book takes on at Elon, her mission has been the same since she fi rst started working at the university in 1999 – helping students realize goals they never imagined for themselves.

“When I’m in a quandary about a decision, I always ask myself, ‘Is this good for the students?’” Book said. “That’s my default position on any request that comes through this offi ce. If what we’re doing is not good for the students, then it’s not the right thing.”

IF IT’S GOOD FOR THE STUDENTS, IT’S GOOD FOR BOOK

13 // � e Legacies of Elon’s Leaders

Story By Alexa Milan

Connie Book� e Legacies of Elon’s Leaders // 14

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Story By Alexa Milan

GET TO KNOWConnie Book

Position: Associate Dean of the School of Communications, became Associate Provost of Academic Affairs on June 1

Arrived at Elon in 1999

Hometown: Baton Rouge, LA