The past academic year has not been a good one for college and university leaders. Leaders at all levels are responding to crises such as state-mandated changes to DEI policies, student and faculty protests of the enmeshment of institutional funds with the state of Israel and its military apparatus and the ongoing killing of Palestinians in Gaza, and financial worries stemming from changes in enrollment demographics. Not only are the issues to manage coming rapidly at leaders, but their responses are also undergoing deeper scrutiny from a broader swath of the public.
How Leaders Shape, Signal, and Build Cultures: A Discussion Guide for Academic Leaders and Their Teams
Among the many desired traits most prized in academic leadership, the ability to shape (or reshape) institutional culture is sometimes overlooked in favor of fiscal acumen, the ability to drive
Lisa Jasinski
May 4, 2026
