In a recent chairs’ council meeting at my institution, we discussed the job description of department chairs, which had been drafted several years previously. We all agreed that it needed to be updated to reflect their increased workload. In our discussion, two very different mindsets became apparent to me; my own default mindset and the mindset of our chairs, both of which I think are grounded in two very different educational and cultural systems.
Reciprocity over Hierarchy: Designing and Implementing a Student-Led Reverse Mentoring Program
Many academic leaders, including administrators and faculty members, participate in traditional mentoring programs that prioritize hierarchy. But these programs typically don’t foster engagement and connection between students and faculty or
Marquita Lyons-Smith and Keva Suitte
October 19, 2026
