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Hard-won, research-based lessons for department chairs committed to leading effectively while fostering equity and well-being.
Practical and inspiring, Colleague to Colleague offers a wealth of guidance for navigating one of higher education's most demanding, sometimes dreaded, roles—department chair. Departing from traditional administrative manuals, the volume brings together more then forty current and former chairs to provide timeless wisdom with a just-in-time approach. In brief, accessible, candid "Dear Colleague" letters, contributors blend lived experience with decades of leadership scholarship to give readers advice for dealing with real challenges when they need it. Topics include managing conflict, supporting faculty, fostering an equity-minded culture, strategic planning, leading as an interim chair, and more. Thematically organized and easily navigable, with reflective activities and practical tools throughout, the volume is ideal for leadership development programs, professional learning communities, and individual growth. In a time of shifting expectations and rapid change, Colleague to Colleage foregrounds human-centered strategies to help academic leaders thrive while advancing their departments and institutions.
"Using the unique form of epistle writing, each contributor draws the reader into their personal journey, offering perspectives on their challenges and accomplishments often missing from similar 'primers.' Largely free of jargon, the vignettes are relatable and the exercises at the end of each chapter will be useful for both individual introspection and 'common read' conversations among chairs in any college or university setting." — Mechthild Nagel, coauthor of Reframing Diversity and Inclusive Leadership: Race, Gender, and Institutional Change
Crystal Renée Chambers is a Professor of Educational Leadership at East Carolina University. She is the author of Black Women's Pathways to Executive Academic Leadership: Lessons from Lived Experiences. Edwin Gómez is a Professor of Recreation Sciences and Sport Management at East Carolina University. Amanda Jayne Muhammad is a Professor of Merchandising at East Carolina University.