Positive academic leadership recognizes that in a system of shared governance, organizational charts and chains of command are only approximations of the truth. We are all leaders in an environment rich in leadership. There are faculty leaders, student leaders, administrative leaders, leaders who hold impressive titles, and leaders who aren’t technically in charge of anything. As positive academic leaders, we don’t cringe when someone mentions motivation. We do our best to motivate others to do their best, captaining the team sometimes but also cheerleading sometimes.
Beyond Programs: Leadership Lessons from Ireland’s Inclusive Universities
During a recent sabbatical studying inclusive postsecondary education in Ireland, I visited four universities—University College Cork, Trinity College Dublin, Dún Laoghaire Institute of Art, Design and Technology, and Mary Immaculate
Ashley Rodrigues
July 20, 2026
