Research suggests that 80 percent of decisions made in institutions of higher education in the United States are made at the department level. Of the approximately 80,000 department chairs, a
This summer, both the Gallup news organization and the Pew Research Center conducted research about attitudes toward higher education. Not surprisingly, both surveys found that respondents who identify as Republican
There are many habits that make for administrative success. In my experience, administrators who exhibit most or all the traits discussed here, along with a strong work ethic, energy, an
The work of the executive assistant to the dean is an extension of the work of the dean in service to the students, faculty, and institution. The executive assistant controls
With innovative technologies now being infused in all facets of college and university curricula, academic leaders are beginning to rethink assessments, reconsider data analysis, and fine-tune contemporary job descriptions on
In Part 1 of this article, I discussed the four-stage Kirkpatrick Model of assessing leadership training programs. In Part 2, I examine why this model has been criticized and how
Presidential transitions are rarely easy. And yet, with effective communication strategies, the transition can actually strengthen a university’s culture and its relationships. How? Overcommunicating minimizes anxiety around “the unknown;” transparency
With all the investments that colleges and universities make in trying to develop their academic leaders—sending them to conferences and workshops, creating their own in-house professional development programs, assigning new
As conversations in academia turn to identifying top educational leaders, what, precisely, constitutes their characteristics? In addition to planning carefully and adapting quickly to unforeseen circumstances, highly effective school leaders
More than five years ago, when I embarked on my doctoral dissertation journey, I tirelessly researched presidents and each one’s path to the presidency at one specific college. What I
