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.
Character (Still) Counts: Moral Injury and the Case for Character Education
Many academic leaders remember the Character Counts! initiative from the 1990s and early 2000s. It was visible in schools and youth programs nationwide, emphasizing as core values the Six Pillars
Teresa Maggard Stephens
June 15, 2026
