In a time of instability and disruption, how do we develop leadership characteristics that will bring about positive, meaningful change?

Written by a college president who has presided over transformative change at a state university, this book takes on the big questions and issues of change and change management, what needs to be done and how to do it. Writing in a highly accessible style, the author recommends changes for higher education such as the reallocation of resources to support full-time faculty members in foundation- level courses, navigable pathways from community college to the university, infusion rather than proliferation of courses, and the role of state universities in countering the disappearance of the middle class. The book describes how these changes can be made, as well as why we must make them if our society is to thrive in the twenty-first century.

Elaine Maimon

Author

Elaine Maimon, a Philadelphia-based author and consultant, draws on a half century of experience in higher education, with twenty-four years at the helm of three public universities: Arizona State University West Campus, University of Alaska-Anchorage, Governors State University. She sees the future of democracy at stake in how we educate and support New Majority students: first-generation, students of color, adults, and military veterans.

“One of America’s best university presidents has written a brilliant book that will surely inspire and instruct other educational leaders. Each page overflows with eloquence, wisdom, evidence, and powerful examples. This book is perhaps Maimon’s most significant gift to higher education. Anyone interested in transformation must read it.”

— Shaun R. Harper

Clifford and Betty Allen Professor, University of Southern California Rossier School of Education

“As you know, it takes a village to achieve our nation’s educational goals. I am comforted in knowing that we share a commitment to making a positive difference in the lives of those who aspire to achieve dreams that were once thought unattainable.”

— Eduardo J. Padrón

Former President, Miami Dade College

“Raising the bar for student success is critical for America as it confronts the challenges of the twenty-first century. This is the right time to address transformational leadership in higher education and the indispensable role of public four-year comprehensive state colleges and universities. This book combines the author’s scholarly knowledge and practical experience to provide guidance, encouragement, and inspiration for transformational leadership. It is an indispensable resource for those committed to improving their institutions in the interest of student success.”

— Muriel A. Howard, Ph.D

Former President, American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU)

Leading Academic Change

Vision, Strategy, Transformation

Leading Academic Change addresses the following concepts:

Transformational rather than transactional leadership
Combining focus with peripheral vision
Recognizing and building on people’s strengths
Making decisions based on principle
Moving from managing to leading
Braiding together equity and quality
Breaking down exclusive social hierarchies that paralyze change
Establishing trust and adapting to local contexts

By: Elaine Maimon
Foreword by: Carol Geary Schneider

ISBN10: 1620365677
ISBN13: 9781620365670

How do we lead change?

Leading Academic Change uses higher education as its prime example. And no doubt colleges and universities require fundamental, cultural change in the post-COVID world. But the book has wider implications for leading the changes necessary for growth and advancement in the third decade of the twenty-first century.