Intentional Reading and the Life of the Mind
Donna LaVoie • Dean, College of Arts and Sciences • Saint Louis University • Saint Louis, MO
May 26, 2025
This essay explores the evolving role of the “life of the mind” in academic leadership, particularly in the work of a college dean. While deans begin their careers rooted in disciplinary scholarship, the transition to administration often distances academic leaders from direct intellectual engagement. How might academic leaders reconnect with scholarly work through reading faculty publications? Making time for intentional engagement with faculty work can deepen an academic leader’s appreciation for interdisciplinary scholarship, can model intellectual curiosity, foster cross-disciplinary connections, and uphold the core values of a liberal arts education. The ability to maintain an active intellectual life is both possible and vital to academic leadership. Read more >
