Vice President of Institutional Advancement earns doctorate
HFC Vice President of Institutional Advancement and Executive Director of the HFC Foundation Dr. A. Reginald Best recently earned his Doctor of Ministry in Strategic Leadership from the Northwestern University Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary in Evanston, IL.
“I pursued my doctorate in strategic leadership because I have always been deeply interested in how effective leaders guide institutions through complex change,” said Best. “My research centered on adaptive leadership, drawing heavily from the work of Drs. Ronald Heifetz and Marty Linsky at the Harvard Kennedy School. Their framework helps leaders differentiate between technical problems, which can be solved with existing knowledge, and adaptive challenges, which require new thinking, deep listening, and cultural shifts.”
Best emphasized that this focus on adaptive leadership is especially relevant in the community college context, as these institutions are constantly navigating transition and transformation.
“Community colleges sit at the intersection of evolving student needs, workforce demands, operational transparency, and public accountability,” explained Best. “My doctoral pursuit gave me more than just theoretical insights. It provided me with practical tools to lead through change while preserving core values. I have learned how to manage the emotional complexity of transition and how to support teams through loss by inviting collaboration and building shared ownership of opportunities that lead organizations in new directions. That is what allows you to lead well, not just from the top, but also from a position alongside your team, and I have had some great teams to work with at HFC.”
Passion for equity, access, and student success
Born in Detroit, Best lives in Southfield with his wife Chera, who is a Certified Public Accountant. They have two adult children.
A two-time alumnus of Wayne State University, Best earned his Bachelor of Science in Industrial Organizational Psychology and his Master of Arts in Teaching. He earned a second Master of Arts in Religious Education from Rochester Christian University. He has also earned an Executive Scholar Certificate in nonprofit management from the Northwestern Kellogg School of Management and a certificate in Fundraising Management from the Indiana University Lilly Family School of Philanthropy in Indianapolis, IN.
“Dr. Best has made a remarkable achievement. Earning his doctorate is a testament to his steadfast commitment to education and transformational leadership. This milestone not only honors his personal journey but also serves as a powerful example for the community college sector, where his passion for equity, access, and student success continues to make a lasting impact,” said HFC Assistant Director of Institutional Advancement and Alumni Relations Dr. Shai James Boyd.
33 years in education
Best has devoted his professional life to education. He began his career at Rochester as an admissions recruiter. He went on to work in Institutional Advancement at the Wayne State University School of Social Work and College of Lifelong Learning, the University of Chicago Graduate School of Business, the Eastern Michigan University Foundation, and Schoolcraft College.
He joined HFC in 2013, where he leads Institutional Advancement, which comprises fundraising, alumni relations, scholarships, grants, corporate and foundation relations, and the Detroit Promise. He also works with the HFC Foundation’s Board of Directors and stewards the Foundation’s endowment.
His proudest student success accomplishment is leading the Detroit Promise program at HFC. Founded in 2016 and funded by the Detroit Promise Zone Authority, Detroit Promise ensures that any student graduating from a high school in Detroit will have a tuition-free path to an associate degree or technical certificate. HFC serves the largest number of Detroit Promise students in Michigan.
“I am very proud of the Detroit Promise team. I enjoy seeing the impact this program has on students and the transition a degree or certificate makes in their lives. Being a resource for them is very important to me as a Detroit native,” said Best. "I am very proud of my advancement team and the transformative work we have accomplished at the HFC Foundation, marked by record growth in our endowment and unprecedented philanthropic support. These milestones reflect not only the generosity of our donors, but also a shared belief in the mission of the College and the potential of our students.”
Best continued: “The best part of my job is hearing from students who stay connected with me after they graduate, to tell me what they are doing and how I had a positive impact on them. That means so much to me. Education at HFC is not a journey, but a destination from which a lifetime of success begins.”