Academics sometimes joke about “going to the dark side” as they transition into university administration. Leadership service does involve drawbacks. The more time one devotes to administrative tasks, the less time they can direct toward potentially more satisfying pursuits in research, teaching, clinical care, or other academic duties. Those downsides contrast, however, with positive impact from leadership, both personally and among those we serve.
Beyond Programs: Leadership Lessons from Ireland’s Inclusive Universities
During a recent sabbatical studying inclusive postsecondary education in Ireland, I visited four universities—University College Cork, Trinity College Dublin, Dún Laoghaire Institute of Art, Design and Technology, and Mary Immaculate
Ashley Rodrigues
July 20, 2026
