Community Corner
SMC's Keith: On Top of Her Game, 24/7, Despite Challenges
Spartanburg Methodist College's Colleen Perry Keith began battling cancer the same year she took over as SMC's first female president. Sponsored by Post Grape-Nuts.
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Colleen Perry Keith had a couple of decades of teaching in higher education under her belt when in 2009, she took on her biggest role to date: the seventh president of Spartanburg Methodist College, and its first female, non-clergy, non-United Methodist president of the College since it was founded 102 years ago.
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That same year, Keith was diagnosed with the disease we all dread. She speaks here about rising to the dual challenges.
Q: What’s the biggest challenge you’ve taken on?
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A: 351 days into my first year as a new (and first time) College President, I was diagnosed with breast cancer. We all know that a first year in a new job is very important and even though I knew I was battling something serious, I was determined that I was not going to let breast cancer or its treatment slow me down anymore more than it had to. Remember what Eleanor Roosevelt said: “A woman is like a tea bag. You never know how strong she is until she gets into hot water.” That was me. In addition to the 24/7 nature of the position itself, the College was also about to embark on a $15 million campaign and build a new building dedicated solely to academics: the first building to be built on the campus for solely academics in nearly 45 years.
Q: What inspired you to take on this challenge?
A: Our students. Spartanburg Methodist College has 800 students. That means I have 800 reasons to get out of bed every morning and work hard to implement the mission of the College. I really had no choice. For the College to thrive (and not just survive) we needed the campaign and the new academic building. For the students to receive the best that the College has to offer, I needed to be on top of my game, every day, all day long. It’s what they deserve.
Q: Did you succeed?
A: We did. I did. The campaign is still ongoing (we have about $6 million more to go to achieve our goal); the building is completed and in use; and I am now three years cancer-free!