Be the Kind of Leader People Remember | A Wisdom Conversation with Bethany Meighen

The People Who Shape Us

The people who leave the deepest mark on our lives rarely do it with grand gestures. More often, they are parents, mentors, teachers, coaches and friends whose quiet encouragement shapes who we become.

Dr. Bethany Meighen has spent her life learning from people like these—and becoming one herself. As President of Concord University, she now helps prepare a new generation of students while preserving the close-knit community that makes Concord distinctive. In this warm and thoughtful conversation, Bethany reflects on the mentors who invested in her, the lessons they passed along and why meaningful influence is often found in small acts of grace, encouragement and care.

Why This Episode Matters

The people who shape our lives rarely do it with grand gestures. They do it through small, faithful acts of encouragement, grace and care—and if you're navigating a season of change, this conversation is a gentle reminder that you can be that person for someone else.

About Our Wise Guest: Dr. Bethany Meighen

Dr. Bethany Meighen serves as President of Concord University in Athens, West Virginia. After more than a decade working within the University of North Carolina System, she returned home to West Virginia to lead a public university devoted to changing lives and responding to the needs of its region.

A passionate advocate for servant leadership, student success and first-generation college students, Bethany believes leadership is less about authority than it is about helping others flourish. Her perspective has been shaped by family members and mentors who modeled sacrifice, humility, courage and care.

She and her husband are raising three sons. Although Bethany carries the responsibility of leading a university, she considers being a wife and mother her most important role.

Wisdom Resources to Explore

🎓 Concord University

Learn more about Concord University, its academic programs, campus community and mission to help students come to learn and go to serve.