The job of college president is harder than ever; a successful candidate must not only be the right fit for a particular university, but also must be the right person for that particular time. Dale Whittaker lasted eight months at the University of Central Florida before a spending scandal brought him down. James L. Gallogly, a former oil industry executive, served 10 months at the University of Oklahoma before retiring amid controversies over campus race relations and budget woes. At Hampshire College, which has faced steep enrollment declines and booming deficits, Miriam E. Nelson resigned about a year into her tenure.
The Chronicle's report,
"The Challenge of Leading Today's Colleges: How Presidencies Go Wrong," examines the complex factors shaping the presidency today: strained business models, transformational changes within the academic landscape, the importance of responding quickly to controversies, and the need to manage diverse competing interests.
