With this issue of The Leader, we say thank you and farewell to Editor-in-Chief Del Doughty, who has helped us with the current number, and we welcome a new editorial board. Our hope is that this new organizational structure will allow The ACAD Leader to grow its reach and provide better support and advice for future contributors. Joining me on the masthead are the following colleagues, who also serve on the board of ACAD: Sheila Liotta, Brian Norman, Brian Peterson, and Richard Badenhausen.
—Bridget Keegan
Although Del will be stepping away from editorial duties, he hopes to continue in an “emeritus” capacity, developing ideas for a connected podcast for ACAD members.
As we prepare this issue for publication, we await the results of the upcoming 2024 election. No matter the results, at both local and national levels, election years mean additional volatility at a time when challenges seem only to grow more intractable. Tricia McFadden’s essay sketches several theories of change and their relevance to creating innovative strategy. Managing change has never been easy, especially when we are seeing continued high levels of turnover in academic leadership. Greg Pillar’s article provides insights to help those who serve in interim positions. Even as our environment changes, some leadership principles remain evergreen. Bob Greenstreet’s article offers a welcome overview of guiding principles for new (and experienced) leaders that can help us weather whatever stormy seas may be ahead.
An area of change that has dominated our professional landscape, particularly in the last few years, has been the dismantling of programs and initiatives that support equity, diversity, and inclusion on our campuses. Julia Chinyere Oparah’s essay provides valuable recommendations for navigating the backlash again DEI activities, regardless of one’s institutional type and position. Contrasting current realities with recent Hollywood depictions, Gordon Alley-Young and Cynthia Olvina suggest how popular (mis)representations can be leveraged to further conversations about structural solutions.
On behalf of the newly configured editorial board, we hope that the articles in this issue spur productive discussions on your campuses. Please consider submitting your ideas and insights to a future issue!
