The case for non-traditional academic leaders

“The job of university president was, until recently, a gig reserved almost entirely for the seasoned professor battle-hardened by decades in academia,” writes Scott Beardsley, who adds that today, many “non-traditional” candidates are taking on leadership roles at universities. The author notes that this trend is controversial for many, who see these candidates as lacking the values and context necessary to run a university. The growing scarcity of traditional candidates, however, coupled with other trends, has made it increasingly common for schools to look outside the academy for new leaders. The author concludes that these leaders must understand that universities are unique organizations with unique values, and that they cannot be managed in the same way a business can. Times Higher Education