The undeaning transition: Toward becoming a former dean

Stepping up from leadership is a protracted transition that involves a complex set of interactions with many constituents. It begins with making the personal decision to step up to integrating the role of the dean in existing repertoire of roles that the person enacts. Deliberate planning, awareness of phases, challenges, goals and strategies, clear communication, transparency, and supportive interactions enhance the potential of experiencing a smooth and a healthy transition for the dean who is stepping up, the incoming dean, and the organization. The beginning and the ending of the undeaning transition are not definitive, but indicators of a healthy transition could be identified along the way through disengagement from old roles, focused new interactions, engagement in new roles, redefinition of goals, and narratives and dialogues about topics that reflect a new set of goals. The nature of the role of former dean is developed through careful onboarding strategies for the new dean and interactions with a new set of constituents who perceive the dean as a former dean. There are five phases involved in undeaning. These are the decision, the search, the naming of the new dean, the exit, and reclaiming professorial voice.