When I interviewed Olivia during the summer of 2024, I was collecting stories from higher education administrators about leadership and burnout. Olivia is a senior leader in academic affairs whose role, thanks to mandates by new leaders and people leaving the institution, includes what was previously the work of three people. Olivia told me she had planned to work into her 70s but now dreams of early retirement every day because of her huge workload and toxic executive leaders. She says,
Not Just a No-Show: Understanding Faculty Absence at Graduation
Each spring, university campuses are spruced up: Lawns are mowed and stages assembled, and rows of chairs fill the arena. Graduation is a time-honored tradition, celebrating students’ hard work and
Heidi Hillman
July 21, 2025
