Musings of Two Administrators for Those Considering a Career Change

Area of Science:

• Higher Education Administration
• Academic Leadership

Background:

• Stepping into an administrative position, such as an associate dean, involves a significant learning curve.
• This transition can be planned or unexpected, requiring adaptation to new responsibilities.

Purpose of the Study:

• To share insights and lessons learned from the experiences of two associate deans.
• To provide guidance for individuals considering or new to academic administrative roles.

Main Methods:

• Reflective insights from two associate deans.
• Identification of practical skills and necessary administrative perspectives.

Main Results:

• Key practical skills beneficial for both faculty and administrative roles were identified.
• Essential shifts in perspective required for effective administration were highlighted.
• Experiences that contributed to successful transitions into leadership were shared.

Conclusions:

• New administrators benefit from understanding practical skills and adopting new administrative perspectives.
• Reflecting on key questions can aid individuals in choosing and navigating administrative career paths.
• Sharing experiences can ease the transition into academic leadership roles.