Demands on institutions of higher education are constantly growing, and recent years, including the Coronavirus pandemic, have complicated academic life in unprecedented ways. The impact of complex and dynamic outside forces, from the pandemic to the interacting socio-cultural, political, economic, and technological factors, calls for strengthened leadership. Yet the 21st century has seen reduced participation by faculty in leadership roles, even though the numbers of faculty globally are rising. Better support is needed to encourage and inspire early and mid-career scholars in pursuing leadership. Thriving in Academic Leadership provides just that, presenting informative and inspiring stories from academic leaders at colleges and universities across the world, including Australia, Canada, India, Ireland, New Zealand, Singapore, South Africa, the United Kingdom and the United States. Personal and engaging, the stories speak to a broad population of academics, serving as an inspiration and guide for academics who aspire to leadership, or are currently in leadership positions, looking to climb the leadership ladder.

Higher education today is facing profound and unprecedented changes to which leaders must respond effectively. Offering a unique insider view of higher education, Ferris and Waldron skillfully showcase expert leadership, providing a rich and meaningful understanding of higher education leadership from across the nexus of existential, philosophical and practical concerns. Including pathways, insights and strategies developed from well-designed ethnographic research, this book incorporates twenty interviews with experienced leaders at a range of four year and doctoral granting institutions across the United States. The authors utilize phenomenological analysis to reveal nuanced elements of leadership that can help higher education leaders navigate challenges and opportunities, and respond skillfully even to the unforeseen challenges such as the Covid-19 pandemic. Bringing together a rich body of reflections, insights and experience from seasoned leaders across a wide range of applied scenarios and contexts, this book serves as a must-have reference for established and aspiring leaders who find themselves navigating new paths and challenges.