Academic leadership is often framed as an exercise in “managing down”: guiding faculty, resolving disputes, or supporting students. Yet the real test of effective leadership may lie in the opposite direction: managing up and forging alliances with colleagues across the campus. Department chairs, directors, and deans must learn not only to advocate for their department’s needs with those who hold the purse strings but also to collaborate laterally in a world of shrinking resources and growing complexity.
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
