US higher education institutions are currently facing a crisis of trust and unprecedented external attacks on shared governance. These attacks include large and volatile funding cuts from federal and state governments and in some cases infringements on academic freedoms in research and teaching. Academic leaders are right to defend their institutions against such attacks, but they should also disarm the attacks by diligently exercising their responsibilities, under shared governance, to uphold federal laws, their academic missions and standards, and fiduciary duties.
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
