When is the Right Time To Make the Switch to Higher Education Leadership?

Stepping into higher education leadership is not a decision to be taken lightly, especially today. With the academy facing political scrutiny, societal upheaval, and rapid shifts in student expectations, leaders must navigate a complicated and often turbulent landscape. Whether you're a faculty member considering a dean’s position or a mid-level administrator weighing a provost role, timing your move into leadership is critical...

Author: Vicki Baker

Leading When It Matters Most: In Extremis Leadership for Today’s Crisis-Ready Organizations

Leaders aren’t just guiding organizations through growth; they’re navigating crises that test values, vision, and humanity. Whether you’re running a school, steering a nonprofit, or managing a corporate boardroom, the old playbook isn’t enough. Enter in extremis leadership...

Author: Laura Lunsford

Building Your Board of Advisors: A Mid-Career Reflection

At some point in mid-career—after the tenure letter is framed, the administrative titles start appearing, or the grant dollars begin to add up—you realize that the path forward in academia is no longer just about expertise or hard work. It's about navigating complexity: balancing teaching, research, leadership responsibilities, and a rapidly changing political and societal climate...

Author: Vicki Baker

Why We Need More In Extremis Leaders—and How Boards Can Help Find Them

Increasingly, we need people who are prepared for more than crisis leadership. They need to be able to lead their organizations through life-threatening crises - events that threaten lives or livelihoods. First studied in military and first-responder contexts, in extremis leadership is just as relevant in boardrooms, classrooms, and public agencies....

Author: Laura Lunsford

Crafting Your Professional Leadership Brand

As you advance in your career, especially into leadership roles, how others perceive you becomes just as important as the skills you bring to the table. This is where crafting your professional leadership brand becomes essential. A strong leadership brand not only enhances visibility and authority but also builds confidence and opens doors for future opportunities...

Why Mentorship Education Matters More Than Ever

Mentoring programs can elevate performance, especially when it is well designed and participants are well-supported. But designing and running effective mentoring programs requires more than good intentions—it requires education...

Mentorship and Sponsorship: Lifting As We Climb

In higher education leadership, "lifting as we climb" is not just an inspiring phrase—it’s a critical responsibility. For women, women of color, and persons of color navigating academic institutions, access to intentional mentorship and sponsorship can define the trajectory of a career. As leaders, understanding and embodying both roles—mentor and sponsor—ensures that we do not just rise individually but also create pathways for others...

From Good to Great: Elevate Your Mentoring Program with Purpose and Proof

Is it working? The dreaded question you’ve probably asked yourself if you’re running a mentoring program—whether in a corporation, government agency, or university. But to answer that with clarity and confidence, you need more than anecdotes and hope. You need structure, strategy, and data...

The Lost Art of Delegation: A Critical Management Skill

It was the third late night in a row for Dr. Harris, a Vice President for Academic Affairs at a mid-sized university. Her office lights burned brightly while the rest of the building sat in darkness. Determined to “get it all done,” she stayed behind reviewing budget spreadsheets, drafting policies, editing departmental reports, and even formatting PowerPoint decks for the upcoming board meeting..