Higher education governance is under pressure, and board failure can quickly become institutional crisis. In The Good, the Bad, and the Board, Dr. Mac Powell draws on decades of leadership, accreditation, and board experience-along with candid accounts from presidents and trustees-to reveal how trust erodes, factions form, and institutions recover. Blending real-world case studies, research, and hard-won lessons, this book offers a practical roadmap for ethical, disciplined, and future-focused board leadership.

Mac Powell is President of the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges, a federally recognized accreditor serving more than 2.5 million students. He also serves as Chair of C-RAC, representing nearly 3,000 colleges and universities, and previously chaired ACE's Council on Innovation and Attainment. A former three-time college president and board member, Powell has spent more than two decades working where governance and leadership collide. His work focuses on accountability, transparency, student success, and restoring trust when boards and institutions fracture under pressure.