Top Dogs Inspire Leadership Lessons: An Asset-Based Approach to Human Resource Development
As a long-standing department chair, director of a complex school of education, and associate dean of a large college comprised of many differing disciplinary departments, I have learned over time that keen observation plays an important role in many aspects of leadership, including faculty development and personnel management. Ultimately, effective...
So You Want to Be a Department Chair: Embarking on an Administrative Career at a Two-Year College
My previous article was for reluctant administrators—those who don’t necessarily aspire to leadership positions but find themselves, for whatever reason, thrust into the role. This time, I’d like to address faculty members who do want to climb the administrative ladder, particularly at two-year colleges. As I noted in my earlier piece, institutions...
New Approach Breathes New Life into Leadership Development Program
About 10 years ago, the academic deans and academic directors that make up the University Council on Teaching and Faculty Development at Tufts University noticed a problem. Academic leaders weren’t given the training and support they needed to excel in their positions. It was not a particularly unique problem—lots of...
Six Questions to Ask to Successfully Establish a Program
Smooth implementation of programs, courses, and curricula of any size is a challenge. Program developers must identify, appraise, and effectively use resources, objectives, and educational methodologies and frameworks, making the process even more difficult and confusing. As Barbara Gross Davis puts it right at the beginning of her book Tools for...
Ten Ways to Find Inspiration for the Coming Year
This article first appeared in Academic Leader on August 1, 2022. © Magna Publications. All rights reserved. The start of the academic year is nearly upon us. On our campuses, student orientations are in full swing, new faculty orientations are being planned, and faculty are planning their syllabi. Some might argue...
Priceless Gift Exchanges between Faculty and Students
Teachers and students can give each other priceless gifts. “Professor Jones changed my life!” The comment is usually followed by the story of a teacher in love with content, students, and learning. How many times have I told the story of my advisor who was the first person to suggest...
Leading a Diversity Culture Shift: The Pivotal Role of Academic Leadership
On college campuses around the nation, students have exerted pressure for progress to be made on diversity and social change. Student demonstrations that began in 2014 and 2015 have taken place in an increasingly hostile national climate and in the face of intervention by conservative legislators in the governance of...
Petty Principles: A Toolbox for Leaders in Higher Education
If you are a leader in higher education, you can attest that academia can be a little cluttered. The challenges to improving teaching and learning are many as administrators continue to evolve into their roles as institutional leaders. Whether you are a novice or experienced leader, there is always room...
The Role of Emotions in Developing Trust: Why Charisma Is Not Enough
This article first appeared in Academic Leader on January 2, 2019. © Magna Publications. All rights reserved. What does it mean to be a leader? Interest in the study of leadership continues to grow, and colleges and universities are taking notice by rolling out new programs. Current degree plans include majors and...
Academic Leaders as Introverts and Extroverts
This article first appeared in Academic Leader on January 1, 2013. © Magna Publications. All rights reserved. In a position such as department chair or dean where interpersonal skills are so important, you might think that all academic leaders would be extroverts. In fact, once while I was out on an interview,...
