The Dean
As a dean, you live and move between two worlds: the world of top university leadership - the president, the provost, vice-provosts and assistant provosts, other deans - and the world of faculty. You are expected to carry out the university's overall agenda and to advocate for your college - roles which can conflict. As Jeffrey Buller puts it, you "manage from the middle" (The Essential Academic Dean).
You're also expected to craft, implement and sustain a vision for your college - to be an imaginative and inspiring leader - and to have an eye for the practical details and interpersonal dynamics on which day-to-day operations depend - in short, to be a good manager.
Lastly, you need to engage with a broad spectrum of stakeholders. This includes not only university leadership, faculty and administrators, but students, parents, and friends of the college.
If you need support in any of these areas, reach out to me. I can help you manage the complexity of your role, clarify and project the mission of your college, think strategically, and work constructively with the college's multiple constituencies. Together, we'll identify and prioritize your key goals and develop a comprehensive plan to achieve them. I also offer guidance in the following areas:
reforms and new initiatives
strategic planning
staff supervision
hiring and termination
crisis management
handling toxic persons
“I worked with Stefan as I undertook a new position. His methodical approach allowed time to slow down and identify essential top priorities and strategies for goal attainment. Regular sessions provided opportunities for reflection and accountability. I’m so glad to have worked with Stefan because now I know I have a trusted resource in the event of future needs.”