Carol Landes

“The way we communicate and interact with people is so important. We should show everyone the same respect no matter their role. That’s just the way I was raised.”

Leadership and education have been two pillars upon which Carol Landes built her life.

Born in Kansas City, Missouri, Carol married George Landes, a seminary student at McCormick in Chicago. Their journey together took them to Baltimore, Maryland, and then to New York City, where they settled in Manhattan for the next 39 years. George was an Old Testament scholar, and Carol, while balancing the demands of family, became deeply involved in the world of education and administration. After raising their three children, she turned her attention to graduate education.

Her professional career started with six and a half years at Union Theological Seminary and later expanded into a 20-year tenure at Columbia University, where she spent 15 years at the Graduate Business School and five at the Law School as a dean. Carol’s professional life, however, was not just about climbing the ranks. It was about making a meaningful impact, building relationships and always learning. “We constantly had students and faculty over. I loved that. I loved the Met and opera at Lincoln Center,” she fondly recalls.

As much as Carol thrived in her career, she also valued volunteering and giving back. Church played an important role in her life, and she was deeply involved in her Manhattan congregation. She also found solace in needlepoint. “Needlepoint is one of my favorite hobbies. I started when I was 42, when things got challenging,” she shares.

Although retired for a decade now, Carol remains dedicated to educational pursuits and leadership. She has served as an Elder and chaired committees for her local church and has held numerous roles on committees and associations since moving to EverTrue Luther Crest in 2012, including as President of the Residents’ Association. “I just continued the leadership skills I had from the university. I had a great time! We built successful relationships and accomplished a lot of things.”

Carol’s leadership philosophy is centered on respect and communication, which has helped her create a collaborative and productive environment.

“The way we communicate and interact with people is so important. We should show everyone the same respect no matter their role. That’s just the way I was raised.”