Leadership expression in four-year public institutions: An exploration of characteristics and strategies of academic deans

Abstract

Higher education needs prepared leaders now more than ever. The purpose of this qualitative, phenomenological study is to explore leadership characteristics and strategies of academic affairs deans at four-year public institutions. This study seeks to gain an understanding of how deans lead in the current environment of public higher education. Ten deans expressed leadership strategies and characteristics working in four-year institutions. Four themes emerged: the differences in leading academic staff; the progression from faculty to dean; a dedication to diversity; and the importance of experiential professional development. The results indicated four-year institutions must place more emphasis on the challenges leaders face and their progression into leadership positions.