Leading Toward Liberation: How to Build Cultures of Thriving in Higher Education by Annmarie Caño, Ph.D. (Johns Hopkins University Press, 2025) reframes leadership through the lens of liberation psychology, Catholic social justice, and the witness of the UCA Martyrs of El Salvador. Drawing on her experience as a Latina, first-generation college graduate, psychologist, and university administrator, Caño lays out a framework for building inclusive academic cultures where dignity, equity, and shared power shape every decision. Rooted in acompañamiento—accompaniment—her model challenges leaders to engage directly with the realities of marginalized communities, embody the preferential option for the poor, and approach leadership as a collaborative practice oriented toward the common good.

This guide supports thoughtful engagement with Caño’s vision of liberatory leadership, which calls for systemic transformation, critical self-awareness, and courageous action within higher education. Highlighting the book’s themes of solidarity, human dignity, community wisdom, and justice, the discussion guide invites readers to reflect on workplace culture, oppressive structures, burnout, and opportunities to co-create flourishing environments. Ideal for educators, administrators, and mission-driven organizations, it connects Caño’s insights to core principles of Catholic social justice and offers practical pathways for building institutions where all people—not just the privileged—can thrive.