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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.
Foreword
Walt Gmelch
Preface
Introduction
Part I. Setting the Tone in Your Department
1. Becoming a Chair – Fasten Your Seatbelt
Lee J. de Lisle
2. Welcome to Your New Expertise – Leadership
Christopher J. Jochum
3. Far from the Dark Side: Extending Impact as an Authentic and System-Savvy Academic Leader
Ellen B. Drogin Rodgers
4. The Hired Yet Unwanted Chair
Chris Hubbard-Jackson
5. Department Chair Motives: Centering Your Why
Kelly S. Bricker
6. Leading by Your Senses
Lee J. de Lisle
Part II. Leading as an Interim
7. Into the Breach: Leading as an Outside Interim
Tracy L. Morris
8. Navigating Strategically and with Empathy: The Journey of an Interim Chair
Chandra R. Story
9. Leading through Change
Cristina Villalobos
Part III. Leadership Skills
10. Keys to Success: Consistency, Organization, Authenticity, and Care
Erica L. Jastrow
11. Leadership Competencies for Department Chairs
Brent Ruben
12. You Can't Always Get What You Want, But You Can Try and Get What You Need
Anna Chupa and Jennifer M. Swann
Part IV. Department Procedures and Processes
13. You are Important – Take Up Space: Reflections on the People Business
Arlett S. Lomelí
14. Advancing a Psychologically Healthy Department
Luis M. Vicente
15. Organizing Yourself and Your Department
Edwin Gómez and Kimberley Walters
16. Enhancing Student and Faculty Recruitment in a Department
Julian Vasquez Heilig
17. Conducting Performance Evaluations: Faculty and Staff
Amanda Muhammad and Sharon M. Ballard
Part V. Strategic Planning and Leading Change
18. Thoughts on Leading and Managing for Aspiring Academic Leaders
Bob Baker
19. Strategic Navigation 101
Arlett S. Lomelí
20. Strategic Planning within the Department: Setting Goals, Mission, and Vision
April Perry
21. Leading Transformative Change in Department Leadership: Strategies for Embedding Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion
Julian Vasquez Heilig
22. Embracing Leadership: Inspiring Change and Growth
Amanda Muhammad
Part VI. Supporting Faculty Success
23. Cultivating Your Faculty
Melanie Pivarski
24. The Value of Intentionality: Creating Structures for Faculty Support
Susan M. Lord
25. Coaching for Faculty Success: Shifting from Managing to Coaching
Joy Gaston Gayles
26. No Promotions for Service
Susan M. Lord
Part VII. Building Relationships in and Outside of the Department
27. Navigating the Social Waters of Being a Department Chair
Linda Serra Hagedorn
28. Recycled Advice from Meandering Experiences
Dorothy L. Schmalz
29. Fostering and Sustaining Department Relationships
Ashwin Satyanarayana
30. Cultivating External Relationships with Industry Stakeholders
William W. Hendricks
31. Community Partnerships for ED&I in a Department
Julian Vasquez Heilig
Part VIII. Leading from the Outside
32. Leading from the Outside: Perspectives from a Woman of Color in a STEM Department
Stephanie Luster-Teasley
33. To my Fellow "Invisible Visibles"
Rasul A. Mowatt
34. The Confidence Scheme
Jesús Pando
Part IX. Leading through Transitions, Conflict, and Crises
35. Leading through the New and Unexpected; Leading by Example
Susan M. Lord
36. Navigating the Transition from an Exiting Chair to an Incoming Department Chair
Edwin Gómez
37. Negotiating Conflict: The Conflict Handling Modes
Peggy Kerr
38. Oh Fudge! The Challenge of Perspective in Administrative Decision-Making
George Bailey
39. Conflict Management & Self-Care
Laurie Harmon
Afterword
Jerlando F. L. Jackson
Appendix A: Bibliography
Appendix B: List of Professional Development Opportunities
Contributor Biographies
Index