Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/90756
bought her argument that the tax hike would pay off in spades. Barhorst has proven herself a motivating game-changer for the college. It's easy to imagine that such a high-power, high-profile undertaking would leave little reserves for doing much in her off- hours. However, this is one leader who seems to get how easily positive energy can fizzle without an enriching personal life. Behind the professional woman we see in headlines and at po- diums in front of students and educators, there is a refreshingly relatable mother, wife, grandmother, and maybe even a bit of a homebody. Barhorst's typical days of countless meetings, con- ferences, and speaking engagements beg to be punctuated with something calm. A quiet nature walk behind her Lake Monona home to look at the bestseller lists, too," she says, "And I promise myself every day that before I go to bed, I get to read something fun, where I don't nec- essarily learn something. It's often a mystery—but I'm so tired, I usually fall asleep after just one page." One of her favorite teaching tools is to quote from authors she's reading. She even starts every speech with a quote—not the same quote but one of any number she finds inspirational. A voracious bookworm, she has six or seven books on her night- water and glistening city skyline often does the trick, but her real go-to is a good book. "I always try to be reading at least two or three books from the stand these days. Her selections run a wide gamut, with some of her favorite authors being Malcolm Gladwell, the bestselling author of brainy sociology books like "Blink" and "Outliers," and Thomas Merton, a mystic who writes largely about spirituality. Yet, it's not just a lifelong hunger for wisdom that keeps her buried in books. It's what helps her recharge. She also stays inspired by looking to the examples of women she admires. For example, Barhorst's fascination with quotes goes back to a nun named Sister Mary Charity Dalton, her favorite col- lege professor. Dalton was Barhorst's speech teacher and advisor. "That's where I get the quote thing," says Barhorst as she flips through her address file in search of the sister's phone number. (The two women still keep in touch.) "She taught me so many things that I still use. One was this quote she used to say: 'Loving takes a long time.' I really believe that," she says. Sister Mary Charity may not have known Barhorst was going to one day lead a successful community college system, but she was prescient enough to know that an outgoing little redhead would meet a whole lot of people in life. "That's why she told me I needed to pay attention to each person that comes along on my path. In my job, there really are so many people every day," Barhorst says, "so I think of that advice often." Another woman who has been inspirational to Barhorst is Madison-based professional consultant Rebecca Ryan of Next Generation Consulting. "I repeat her story often," says Barhorst. "She says that in life, you've been given four balls. Three of those balls are glass, and if you drop them, they will break. One of those balls is rubber, and it will bounce back. The three glass balls are your health, your family, and your friends. The rubber ball is your job. You can get another job, but you cannot get back your family if you let them down." The delicate dance required to keep all those balls afloat is some- thing Barhorst knows all too well. November 2012 bravamagazine.com 43