More than five years ago, when I embarked on my doctoral dissertation journey, I tirelessly researched presidents and each one’s path to the presidency at one specific college. What I
As conversations in academia turn to identifying top educational leaders, what, precisely, constitutes their characteristics? In addition to planning carefully and adapting quickly to unforeseen circumstances, highly effective school leaders
During the pretenure probationary period, new assistant professors receive a good deal of attention from faculty committees and their department chairs regarding their progress toward a successful tenure application.
Last year, I wrote an essay for Academic Leader suggesting that new deans should examine the administrative implements in their metaphorical ”toolbox” to make sure they were ready for the
As budgets tighten at colleges and universities, academic leaders are repeatedly urged to be more entrepreneurial in their approaches. “It’s time to think outside the box,” we’re told. “Be creative.
Whether you are new to the school or moving into a position of leadership with more responsibility in your current department, there are some things to keep in mind for
Leadership changes in the upper administration can be stressful for chairs and deans. We’ve all seen situations in which a new chancellor or president arrives, and between six months and
So, you’re a new dean, charged with the care and feeding of many faculty and staff (think of all the directors who have become ubiquitous in higher education institutions in
The first six months (or even year) of a position is often called an academic leader’s “honeymoon period.” People are more likely to overlook an administrator’s mistakes and to cut
My first weeks as a dean were exciting, confusing, and a bit intimidating, as I imagine most people’s are. As the dean and director of education at a small, vocationally
