
Leaders in the Labyrinth
College Presidents and the Battlegrounds of Creeds and Convictions
Stephen J. Nelson(Author)
Rowman & Littlefield Publishers
Published on 16. April 2010
Book
Paperback/Softback
144 pages
978-1-60709-656-6 (ISBN)
Description
Leaders in the Labyrinth sheds light on the ways presidents conduct the influence and power of their office, especially in the use of their pulpits, how they navigate issues of political correctness, and how they hold the center of the university together in contentious times and against competing ideological forces. Nelson has formulated a comprehensive image of the tenor, talents, and temperaments essential for today's presidency, for those who aspire to assume leadership in the future and for those-administrative and alumni leaders, trustees, and senior faculty-who fix on and select the leaders of our colleges and universities.
In addition to academicians, scholars, administrators, and trustees, this book will interest any alumni or graduates who follow the leadership and fortunes of their alma maters and of other colleges and universities, and their presidents. The book argues for the central role of presidents and calls for their influence not to be restricted to the margin, that is, to fundraising and development. Rather, these leaders are, and will continue to be, instrumental in fashioning the university of the future in ways that are distinctive and pronounced among the various and competing forces presumed central to those future prospects and directions.
Leaders in the Labyrinth sheds light on how presidents conduct the influence and power of their office, especially in the use of their pulpits, how they navigate issues of political correctness, and how they hold the center of the university together, in contentious times and against competing ideological forces. Nelson has formulated a comprehensive image of the tenor, talents, and temperaments essential for today's presidency, for those who aspire to assume leadership in the future and for those who select the leaders of our colleges and universities.
Because this book depicts the stories and scenes, issues and concerns ever-embedded in the lives of colleges and universities, Leaders in the Labyrinth will enrich readers interested in leadership, in the fortunes of college presidents, and in preserving the academy as a distinctive and irreplaceable enterprise.
In addition to academicians, scholars, administrators, and trustees, this book will interest any alumni or graduates who follow the leadership and fortunes of their alma maters and of other colleges and universities, and their presidents. The book argues for the central role of presidents and calls for their influence not to be restricted to the margin, that is, to fundraising and development. Rather, these leaders are, and will continue to be, instrumental in fashioning the university of the future in ways that are distinctive and pronounced among the various and competing forces presumed central to those future prospects and directions.
Leaders in the Labyrinth sheds light on how presidents conduct the influence and power of their office, especially in the use of their pulpits, how they navigate issues of political correctness, and how they hold the center of the university together, in contentious times and against competing ideological forces. Nelson has formulated a comprehensive image of the tenor, talents, and temperaments essential for today's presidency, for those who aspire to assume leadership in the future and for those who select the leaders of our colleges and universities.
Because this book depicts the stories and scenes, issues and concerns ever-embedded in the lives of colleges and universities, Leaders in the Labyrinth will enrich readers interested in leadership, in the fortunes of college presidents, and in preserving the academy as a distinctive and irreplaceable enterprise.
Reviews / Votes
Quiet grace and dignity, characteristics closely associated with a college presidency, go only so far during stormy union negotiations, frustrating budget hearings, and long, contentious board meetings about how to market the college to increasingly skeptical and technology-controlled consumers. Nelson finds that successful presidents, or potential presidents have their share of traditional characteristics but also possess the ability to hold the core of the university together whether in intellectual or financial boom times or bust, and have the insight to know when the battle is for the soul of the university and when it is merely a minor skirmish. Nelson's narratives from the front line are always instructional and often riveting, and the result is not only a guide for prudent educational leadership but also a tool search committees can use to find that quiet grace and dignity with the necessary edge. * Reference & Research Book News *More details
Series
Language
English
Place of publication
United States
Publishing group
Bloomsbury Publishing Plc
Target group
Professional and scholarly
Dimensions
Height: 229 mm
Width: 152 mm
Thickness: 14 mm
Weight
382 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-60709-656-6 (9781607096566)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Other editions
Additional editions

Stephen J. Nelson
Leaders in the Labyrinth
College Presidents and the Battlegrounds of Creeds and Convictions
E-Book
04/2010
1st Edition
Rowman & Littlefield Publishers
from
€59.09
Available for download

Stephen J. Nelson
Leaders in the Labyrinth
College Presidents and the Battlegrounds of Creeds and Convictions
E-Book
04/2010
1st Edition
Rowman & Littlefield Publishers
€49.99
Available for download
Person
Stephen J. Nelson is Assistant Professor of Educational Leadership at Bridgewater State College (MA) and is a Senior Scholar in the Leadership Alliance at Brown University. He holds a Ph.D. in Professional Higher Education Administration from the University of Connecticut, and is the author of Leaders in the Crucible: The Moral Voice of College Presidents (2000). He received a Kellogg Foundation grant to conduct the further research about college and university presidents that led to this book. Dr. Nelson holds a B.A. degree in history from Gettysburg College, an MS in Religious Studies from the Harford Seminary, and a Masters of Divinity from Andover Newton Theological School.
Content
Chapter 2 Introduction Part 3 Presidential Leadership: Navigating Climate and Challenges Part 4 The Contest for the Middle: Can the Center Hold? Part 5 The Present and the Future: Presidential Prospects Chapter 6 A Coda: Creeds and Character