Working in academia has long been a dream role for many scholars, practitioners, and working professionals (Larsson & Alvinius, 2019). We asked a group of leaders from institutions of higher education what compelled them to work in a college or university setting. Their responses included seeking to recreate the transformational experience they had as students, to emulate the professors they learned from in the classroom, and “to make a difference.” After all, the typical college setting has historically had an aura of prestige: it’s been a place with community recognition where academic freedom is protected, new ideas emerge, and the next generation of critically thinking students are molded into thoughtful participants within society.
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
