Leading Academic Change: Essential Roles for Department Chairs

"To ensure its continued validity, higher education needs to change, something it cannot do without the participation of department chairs. In this book, Ann Lucas has assembled some of the most thoughtful people in higher education to provide the 'line leaders' of higher education with the essential knowledge they need to bring those changes about." (Margaret A. Miller, president, American Association for Higher Education)

"Department chairs are typically amateurs, entering upon their position for a limited time with no formal training to prepare them for the many roles and responsibilities that the job requires. Both new chairs and more experienced ones will find in Leading Academic Change help in dealing with problems they are facing as well as inspiration and insights to go beyond minimum expectations and provide leadership for the future." (W.J. McKeachie, professor of psychology, University of Michigan)

"Ann Lucas inspires chairs beyond the jokes about 'herding cats' to see their central role at the intersection of the institution and their discipline. With practical advice and a platform of sound social science, Lucas offers a promising paradigm for chairs to move their departments from a federation of islands to a decision-making team." (Carla B. Howery, deputy executive officer, American Sociological Association)

"This book is unusually good. Clear, comprehensive, and immediately useful, it should be read by every department chair." (Peter Seldin, Lubin School of Business, Pace University)