Stepping Away: Returning to the Faculty After Senior Academic Leadership

Senior leaders in academia often return to the rank-and-file workforce in the twilight of their careers, leading to challenges and opportunities. Stepping Away examines how these role changes impact individuals and institutions, providing practical strategies for successful transitions.

Format: Hardback
Length: 210 pages
Publication date: 14 July 2023
Publisher: Rutgers University Press

In the twilight of their careers, senior leaders in the corporate world, military, and academia often return to the rank-and-file workforce. While this phenomenon is uncommon in other professional fields, it is prevalent in academia. Former senior leaders often conclude their careers by reprising the roles and responsibilities of a professor.

Until now, leaders and institutions have been left to navigate these transitions on their own, often learning hard lessons that could have been avoided.

Stepping Away: Navigating Senior Leadership Role Changes is a book that delves into the impact of senior leadership role changes on individuals and institutions. Drawing from empirical research involving more than fifty college presidents, provosts, and deans, the book offers a fresh understanding of the challenges and opportunities leaders face as they assume a new place in the social architecture of their campus.

The book bridges the gap between theory and practice, translating research into practical strategies that leaders can use to navigate this transition successfully. It provides guidance on when to speak up, when to remain quiet, how to develop new relationships, where to office, whether to apply for new jobs, and how to use their knowledge and skills to add value to their campus communities, both on-campus and off.

By examining the experiences of senior leaders who have successfully transitioned into new roles, Stepping Away offers valuable insights and practical tools for those who are preparing for or facing similar transitions in their careers. It is a must-read for leaders, educators, and anyone interested in understanding the dynamics of leadership and organizational change.

Weight: 398g
Dimension: 157 x 237 x 21 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9781978823853