College Presidents Research Articles

"We Don't Need Any More Martyrs": Anti-War Protests at the University of Iowa 1970

This thesis argues that the May 1970 anti-Vietnam War protests at the University of Iowa were nonviolent compared to similar demonstrations at other colleges. This was due to the actions of University President Willard “Sandy” Boyd, who was able to strike a delicate balance between maintaining civil order and protecting the right to protest. Students protested the joint U.S.-South Vietnamese invasion of Cambodia and the killings of students at Kent State University during a time of intense political upheaval. American politicians and citizens debated how to handle the war in Vietnam best and what course of action to take when coping with anti-war demonstrations. This thesis examines the protests at the University of Iowa to understand better the local political dynamics and how local leaders coped with a dynamic political environment. This thesis uses sources from the University of Iowa archives, the Iowa State Historical Society, and the Daily Iowan archives. While many college and government officials chose to adopt repressive stances towards the protests that occurred nationally, the Iowa protests were de-escalated without any deaths. This resolution gives current elected officials a model of how to maintain civil order without violating the rights of American citizens.

In the Shadow of the Ivory Tower: An Ethical Exploration of Citizen Assessments of American University Presidents’ Political Endorsements

Higher education leaders sometimes transgress norms of political involvement. Despite some norm-violating behaviors, legal consequences are sparse. Some argue that this is based on concerns over taxpayers impugning regulators’ motives as partisan. Public skepticism is warranted, especially as university officials engage in unlawful forms of political activism that can go unenforced. What explains citizens’ tolerance for norm-violating political activities within higher education institutions? Furthermore, what drives citizens to blame some leaders for engaging in legally precarious political behaviors while providing more latitude for others who act similarly? Drawing from research on citizen accountability as well as partisan cue-led attitudes, authors argue that tolerance for political involvement in higher education contexts is explained by an institutional leader’s partisanship and sectoral type, that is, private versus public institution. To test these claims, authors fielded a survey experiment drawing on a Lucid panel. Findings show evidence that a leader’s partisanship and the institution’s sectoral type influence individuals’ acceptance or rejection of a university president’s endorsement of a political candidate, dependent upon the respondent’s partisan characteristics. Findings also confirm the emerging politicization of higher educational spaces, highlighting the implications for understanding public perceptions of higher education leaders’ political involvement and the impact on the sector.

Royal Veterinary College president and principal to step down.

Royal Veterinary College president and principal to step down.

Towards an Equitable Future? Whiteness as Futurity in University Responses to Anti-Asian Violence

In this study, I investigate how the rhetoric used in university responses to anti-Asian violence maintained institutional status quos to protect whiteness in higher education. Using whiteness as futurity as a theoretical framework, I employed document analysis to analyze 54 statements in response to the tragic mass shooting in Atlanta in March of 2021 from university presidents of institutions from the Association of American Universities. The findings illuminate how presential rhetoric deployed a malleable history, urgency in the present, and an imagined equitable future. Further, the statements analyzed in this study implicated the three components of whiteness of futurity: whiteness as aspiration, whiteness as investment, and whiteness as malleable. Implications for research and practice are discussed.

Preface

The International Scientific and Practical Conference “Food and Environmental Security in Modern Geopolitical Conditions: Problems and Solutions” (EPFS 2024) was held on April 22-23, 2024. The organizers and partners of the International Scientific and Practical Conference are the M. Dulatov Kostanay University of Engineering and Economics (Republic of Kazakhstan), Tajik Agrarian University named after Shirinsho Shotemur (Republic of Tajikistan), Institute of Biotechnology of the National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Kyrgyzstan, Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences, Ural State Agrarian University (Russian Federation), Sharda University (India), Universidad Politecnica de Madrid (Spain), Kazakh Agrotechnical Research University named after S. Seifullin (Republic of Kazakhstan). The main conference guidelines are the following: - Socio-economic prerequisites and conditions for ensuring food security; - Ecological and economic optimization of the land use; - Greening of agricultural production; - Digital technologies in the Agro-industrial complex; - Optimization of the use of land resources in agricultural environmental management system; - Innovative development of crop production; - Precision technologies in agriculture; - Strategic goals and objectives in the field of ensuring food security of the Eurasian Economic Union; - Problems of technological modernization of agriculture; - Land reclamation development in adaptive landscape farming systems; - Adaptation of agriculture to changing climate conditions; - Problems of technical and environmental safety of the Agro-industrial complex and ways of their effective solution; - Product and environmental quality management; - Prospects for processing industry development. The international conference was attended by leading scientists from Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Hungary, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Armenia, Tajikistan, Azerbaijan and the People’s Republic of China. The Organizing Committee expresses its deep gratitude to colleagues and partners for the opportunity to jointly hold the International Scientific and Practical Conference for the traditional third time. The international conference (EPFS 2024) was held offline or online, scientists from different countries presented their reports (research) via video conference. The topics of the announced speeches cover a wide range of issues of environmental safety and solving food problems in various areas of the agro-industrial complex. Attention should be paid to the significant contribution of the International Conference, both in solving theoretical and practical problems of environmental and food security, and the agro-industrial complex as a whole. The achievements of scientific teams and the practical experience of leading scientists and specialists presented at the international conference will contribute to the further development of food and environmental security. The International Conference Organizing Committee received 97 manuscripts, 35 of which received positive reviews. The materials have been checked for compliance with the requirements of IOP Publishing by competent specialists and scientists in the field of agro-industrial complex. The Organizing Committee of the International Conference (EPFS2024) expresses sincere gratitude to all conference participants, experts, moderators and editors for the work done and interest shown in the conference. Thanks to the fruitful joint work of scientists from different countries, the International Conference was held at a high level. We hope for further fruitful cooperation! Prof. Dr. Ismuratov Sabit Borisovich Chairman of the Organizing Committee, Doctor of Economics, Professor, Academician of the International Academy of Agrarian Education, President of Kostanay Engineering and Economic University named after M. Dulatov, Republic of Kazakhstan. Prof. Dr. Zoltán Károly Lakner Deputy Chairman of the Organizing Committee, Head of the Doctoral School of Economic and Regional Sciences Hungarian University of Agriculture and Life Sciences (Godollo, Hungary). Prof. Dr. Zhunushov Asankadyr Deputy Chairman of the Organizing Committee, Institute of Biotechnology of the National Academy of Sciences of the Republic of Kyrgyzstan. Prof. Dr. Koshchaev Andrei Deputy Chairman of the Organizing Committee, Kuban State Agrarian University (Russian Federation). Prof. Dr. Yo’ldoshev Nuriddin Deputy Chairman of the Organizing Committee, Tashkent State University of Economics (Republic of Uzbekistan).

University leadership within the neoliberal agenda: Reframing the landscape through a principled leadership approach

This article emerged from a doctoral study that explored Nova Scotia university leaders’ leadership beliefs and values, and change agency approaches. “Principled leadership” was conceptualized as an expansion of authentic leadership theory and involved – authenticity (identity), spirituality, and love (an ethic of care). Principled leadership was examined as a possible approach which could facilitate successful change agency. The leader-participants included university presidents, vice-presidents, directors, and deans. A key finding was that leaders were operating within a conceptualization of authenticity. They held honesty, integrity, and trust as critical to their change agency. Another finding was that principled leadership offered an antidote to the depredations on positive leadership resulting from neoliberalism that has seriously impacted Canadian higher education. This study raised questions surrounding the nature of authentic leadership and identity; that is, the core of authenticity is knowing oneself and being true to one’s own values, but what if a leader has “drunk the Kool-Aid of neoliberalism” thereby truly believes that their top-down, autocratic (or destructive leadership) approach was ‘efficient’ (a neoliberal tenet) and crucial to organizational effectiveness and change agency. Can they still be considered authentic leaders? Thus, this study indicated that principled leadership was a useful expansion of Avolio and his colleagues’ authentic leadership theory.

Electron spins from a molecular perspective: an interview with Song Gao.

Spin chemistry has emerged as an interdisciplinary field that focuses on electron spins in molecules and related applications in physics, chemistry, biology, materials science and information science. It will play a crucial role in technological innovations. The chemistry of spins is deeply related to the essence of chemical bonds, chemical catalysis, enzyme catalysis, optical and electromagnetic properties, quantum computation and quantum precision measurements. The related research is intersectional, cutting-edge and has a wide range of application prospects. National Science Review (NSR) recently interviewed Prof. Song Gao to discuss spin chemistry. Prof. Gao is a renowned inorganic chemist and an academician of Chinese Academy of Sciences. He is the president of Sun Yat-sen University and the founder of the Spin-X Institute of South China University of Technology. He is recognized as a leader in coordination chemistry and molecular magnetism, and has strong academic influence. Since 2008, he has served on the International Advisory Committee of International Conference on Molecule-Based Magnets, and organized and chaired its 2010 conference. Prof. Gao's primary research topics include molecular nanomagnets; the relationship between geometric structures, electronic structures and magnetism of molecules; and the spin states and reactivity of molecules.

College President Departure After No-Confidence Votes: An Event History Analysis

ABSTRACT Faculty-led no-confidence votes against college presidents have increased over the past decade. These votes often aim to create conditions that lead to the president’s departure. In this study, I used event history analysis to investigate the influence of faculty-led no-confidence votes on the tenure of college presidents. The analysis reveals that nearly 70% of presidents leave their positions within four semesters of a no-confidence vote. The study further explores the influence of various factors, including institutional and presidential characteristics, on the likelihood of presidential departure after no-confidence votes. The results indicate that student enrollment size is the only significant predictor, with smaller institutions more likely to experience leadership turnover following a vote. The study concludes that no-confidence votes are a powerful tool for facilitating presidential change across diverse institutional types. These findings have important implications for faculty governance bodies and boards of trustees, highlighting the need for strategic planning in response to such votes.

BECOMING A SELF LESS LEADER: LESSONS FROM A LIFE OF SERVANT LEADERSHIP

AbstractThe author, who retired as president of Claremont Graduate University in June 2024, writes that he “developed a purpose statement: When I get to the end of my path, I want to be able to look back and know at that moment that I did everything possible to have as much positive impact on as many people as I possibly could have and that I never shied away from an opportunity to do so.” The concept of time is a major consideration: “We sit in these seats of leadership for a brief, fleeting moment, and it’s a privilege not to be taken lightly. So be grateful, make the most of it, leave it better than you found it, let others have the credit, and make sure they are having fun and doing things that are meaningful to them.” And things must be put into perspective: “Leadership is about the pursuit and not the destination. I don’t think of myself less as a leader per se. Rather, I think of myself as a student of leadership, always learning and growing, always trying to get better at the craft, and always trying to learn from others and to do good for others as a result.”

Equity in Action in Community College Leadership

Equity in action starts with a leader’s critical consciousness in relation to their identities, ideologies, and positionalities. In this essay, the following factors: ideologies, identities, and positionalities are explained and emphasized as they are essential factors that impact equity work. Leaders who center equity must explore their own critical consciousness through an equity lens so that they prioritize equity at the forefront while leading, collaborating, and making decisions in their leadership positions. The positionality of leaders is also critical on how they use their power to influence their community and amplify the voices of the underrepresented. One subset of the findings, Equity in Action, from my dissertation, Asian American Community College Presidents: The Power of Identities, Ideologies, and Positionalities is included in this essay. To set the foundation of the dissertation, the SEL framework, also known as the shared equity leadership framework (Kezar et al., 2021) is used to analyze how leaders build their own capacity in equity work. In addition, my positionality and development as an equity leader are reflected in this essay.

An Overview of the Community College Student Government Association

ABSTRACT Community colleges are increasingly adopting and relying on student engagement activities to build a sense of belonging and improve graduation rates. One such measure undertaken at many colleges is the use of traditional student affairs programs, including student government associations. These student governments not only build a sense of community among students, but add to student learning and the overall operation and sense of inclusiveness on campus. Using a sample of 150 community colleges, senior student affairs professionals were surveyed about their student governments and their agendas. With a near 60% response rate, survey data revealed that community college student governments typically had an advisor with multiple responsibilities that leaders regularly met with college presidents, and were funded by student fees or a direct allocation from the college. The data also included information on the range of student government offices and how agendas were aligned across campus constituencies. Cross tabs were also used to explore sources of funding support and constituent agenda alignment, noting that direct institutional allocations resulted in the highest level of agenda alignment. Respondents also noted several key agenda items that their student government addressed, including student mental health, building community on campus, and additional academic support.

What it Takes to Become a University President? Just Do It: Career Capital & Impression Management

What it Takes to Become a University President? Just Do It: Career Capital & Impression Management

The new scarlet letter: Global challenges of motherhood in public administration programs and how we could solve them

AbstractMotherhood in academia remains vastly underrepresented in both developed and developing countries. Key career opportunities for women often coincide with childbearing and child‐rearing years, limiting their consideration for these positions. This underrepresentation diminishes academic mothers' ability to contribute meaningfully to public administration (PA) and development issues that deeply impact them. Using comparative administrative law, we develop a typology of environments academic mothers navigate, reflecting national and cultural differences. We investigate the historical, cultural, and structural factors perpetuating this inequity, highlighting biases and discrimination faced by academic mothers. Entrenched institutional structures and complacent cultural norms exacerbate their systemic oppression. Normalizing motherhood in academia, from graduate students to university presidents, requires new laws, policies, programs, and expectations that create strong legal protections and favorable institutional policies. We conclude with universal recommendations to transform academia into a more inclusive space for mothers, focusing on PA to address this pervasive issue.

Utilising the workforce

Andrew McCarthy-McClean interviews Gillian Ruddock about College presidency, multidisciplinary teams and connecting primary and secondary care

A Comparative Study of the Commencement Speeches in Harvard University and Peking University Presidents’ Commencement Speeches Based on the Hofstede’s Cultural Dimensions Theory

In recent years, a growing number of studies have probed into university presidents’ commencement speeches from various perspectives. Nevertheless, research from the perspective of cultural dimensions has received little scholarly attention. This paper explores the cultural differences revealed in the commencement speeches of the presidents of Harvard University and Peking University from 2012 to 2021, through which a deeper insight into the diversities between Chinese and American cultures can be gained. Based on four aspects of Hofstede’s cultural dimensions, namely, Power Distance, Individualism and Collectivism, Long-term and Short-term Orientation, and Indulgence and Restraint, this paper conducts a textual and qualitative analysis of commencement speeches. This study will be conducive to a better understanding of the cultural differences between China and America. Meanwhile, it contributes to further research on this subject from a new perspective.

Promoting clean energy in the Navajo nation

Promoting clean energy in the Navajo nation University President Elmer Guy examines the vital role of educational institutions like Navajo Technical University in empowering communities and supporting their efforts to achieve clean energy development goals. The Navajo Nation encompasses more than 25,000 square miles of desert and scrubland in the southwestern US. The Navajo People, or Diné as they refer to themselves, have long advocated for self-determination. Through the Navajo Technical University (NTU), the Navajo community has the ability to educate its youth in line with its traditions, cultures, and beliefs. However, the lack of Navajo engineering faculty results in a scarcity of role models for engineering students.

Breaking the Stained-Glass Ceiling: The Gendered Experiences of Women College Presidents of Catholic Institutions

This interpretive phenomenological study features the leadership experience of 16 current and former women college presidents of U.S. Roman Catholic colleges and universities. With Catholic organizations barring women from top leadership roles within the Church, the term “stained-glass ceiling” describes the unique leadership barriers that women face in Catholic higher education. Using Acker’s theory of gendered organizations as a framework, analysis revealed six findings that illustrate the exclusionary nature of the Catholic patriarchy, as well as women’s strategies for navigating these environments: waiting for the “right” presidency, emphasizing their difference, being “chief mission officer,” leading social justice initiatives, and supporting future leaders. Together, findings illustrate how participants shaped their presidencies in ways that aligned with their values and advanced women’s opportunity in the field. We offer implications for practice and future research.

Leadership in Adventist Higher Education Series: Adventist College and University Presidents Reflect on Their Tenure

Leadership in Adventist Higher Education Series: Adventist College and University Presidents Reflect on Their Tenure

Akuntabilitas Berbasis Religiosity Value: Berperakah Mencegah Fraud Accounting?

This research aims to carefully investigate the concept of accountability in the context of preventing and addressing potential fraud within the structure of student organizations. The research method employed in this study is qualitative phenomenology, which aims to provide a deeper and richer understanding of how accountability operates within an organizational environment. Additionally, the qualitative phenomenological approach is used to uncover the meaning of experiences directly encountered by individuals. Phenomenology is chosen to gather information regarding fraud occurring within student organizations and reveal the meaning of accountability from the perspective of students' religiosity. This research utilizes primary data obtained from in-depth interviews with subjects of the study. The informants used in this research are the presidents of universities in Pontianak. Based on the research findings, it can be concluded that: 1) Transparency and communication among organization leaders are crucial for preventing miscommunication, strengthening the organizational environment, and reducing the potential for accounting fraud by closing information gaps. 2) The accountability attitude of organization leaders, especially through the production of accurate financial reports, can detect and address accounting fraud. 3) Religion plays a significant role in shaping individual morality and influencing the implementation of accountability. 4) The implementation of accountability in organizations involves morality driven by religious teachings. 5) Religious teachings prohibit fraudulent actions, thus the more devout one is to their religion, the less likely they are to engage in accounting fraud.

Genre as an Act of Positioning

This article explores genres as recurrent acts of positioning that contribute to associating particular positions with the genre users as social actors. As an illustration, the study investigates the positioning of Chinese university presidents in their published opening convocation speeches. By combining rhetorical move analysis with the positioning triangle framework, this study demystifies three positions conventionally used by university presidents in the genre: guiding educator, morale builder, and university representative. These positions, legitimized by the role of the university president, establish specific types of social relations between the president and the students, which function as channels for the transmission of values, particularly collective values, to address relevant social expectations in Chinese society. This study suggests that the genre-based positioning analysis can offer valuable genre knowledge to novice practitioners, enabling them to familiarize themselves with adequate positionings that adhere to the code of conduct within a discourse community, thereby facilitating effective genre realization.