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It’s that time of the year when I cull my bookshelf. Nine bookcases of books at the office and four at home is more than I need. I’ll put some volumes out on a small table in the hallway for…
Continue readingRecently I spoke with a seminary dean in her fourth year in office. After four years she is stepping down, but takes some pride in having hit the top end of the average tenure for faculty in that office. While…
Continue readingDeans in theological schools tend to come from the Faculty, for a variety of reasons. Sometimes it’s a question of who is most willing to serve (or, who missed the meeting when the vote was taken!). Sometimes it’s a decision…
Continue readingDeans in theological schools face increasing demands to demonstrate educational effectiveness from accrediting agencies and constituents. For many theological schools, and for new deans, this can seem like an imposing challenge. Demonstrating educational effectiveness falls to the office of the…
Continue readingTheological school deans serve in the capacity of institutional change agents. By virtue of leading from the center, deans bring about change through vision, influence, and, by pushing against inertia. As a person who leads from the center, theological school…
Continue readingThe relationship of the dean with faculty does not have to be adversarial, but it occasionally can be. Edwin Friedman wrote, “Living with crisis is a major part of leaders’ lives. The crises come in two major varieties: (1) those…
Continue readingI’ve been observing several leaders in the process of making decisions. Some pertain to leaders making organizational or institutional decisions (dealing with employees, closing a program, dealing with a crisis). In only a few of those instances have I observed…
Continue readingI agree with Stephen Graham’s assertion that “Right now, theological schools need leaders, not just managers.”(1). He wrote, “Theological schools need leaders who are willing to name the changes that have taken place, anticipate the changes to come, and lead…
Continue readingAlbert Einstein said, “Few people are capable of expressing with equanimity opinions which differ from the prejudices of their social environment. Most people are even inapable of forming such opinions.” Every organization does well to avoid the trap of shaping…
Continue readingAt a recent consultation with a school I once again encountered the dilemma faced by school leaders who lack a background in the field of education. This school has been in existence for ten years, well past the “make it…
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