On Being Presidential

Praise for On Being Presidential "This is the best book I've ever read on being a college president."—Arthur Levine, president, Woodrow Wilson National Fellowship Foundation, and president emeritus, Teachers College, Columbia University "A must-read for anyone involved in higher education. Susan Resneck Pierce's cautionary tales and commonsense approach to college management present, in a very entertaining way, the 'dos' and 'don'ts' of effective postsecondary academic leadership. Highly recommended... I am so enthusiastic that I plan to share On Being Presidential with two new university presidents!"—Barbara Young, vice-chair, Sweet Briar College Board of Directors, and two-time appointee to the University of Kentucky Board of Trustees "Susan Pierce provides an insightful guide to the successful presidency, lessons based not on theory but gleaned from meaningful experiences. Nearly every page contains pearls of wisdom both for college and university presidents and for those who aspire to lead campuses."—Constantine W. Curris, president emeritus, American Association of State Colleges and Universities

Foreword vii Preface xi Acknowledgments xvii About the Author xxi Part I Being an Effective President 1. Some Cautionary Tales 3 2. The President and the Board 23 3. The President and the Campus 53 4. Nothing Happens Until Money Happens 83 5. Crafting a Private Life in a Public Context 103 6. Letting Go and Leaving Gracefully 117 7. The Pleasures of the Presidency 129 Part II Becoming an Effective President 8. The Future of the College Presidency 143 9. Back to the Beginning: The Search Process 167 References 191 Resources 195 Index 197