A good bit has been written about the issues an academic leader should consider when thinking about whether to step back from a leadership role. Most recently, Lisa Jasinski has presented a solid list of the issues to examine in Stepping Away, a terrific resource I have recently discussed. I don’t want to rehash those points, but I do want to dig into an issue that merits more conversation: how to address the pressure from well-meaning colleagues and friends to stay in your role even while you are busy articulating for them the reasons why stepping back is appropriate.
Expertise, Credentials, and the Value of the University
It seems we can’t trust our own credentials or those that we provide to our students. Or perhaps it would be better to say that we have so much confidence
Constance C. Relihan
May 18, 2026
