Your department has just hired a new tenure-track professor, and for them, it’s the fulfillment of a lifelong dream. Now what? New faculty joining a department may feel an array of emotions—excitement, anxiety, curiosity, and trepidation—all of which contribute to uncertainty and stress (Sun & Simon-Roberts, 2020). They may be unsure of their new identity and voice as faculty and have questions about student engagement. Dealing with those multilayered uncertainties can be challenging, especially when protocols and resources are unknown.
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