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The Kinds of Problems Deans Solve

Two years into my deanship a friend asked how the job was going: "Is it between '10. The best job ever;' or, '6. I’d rather shoot my eye out with a nail gun;' and '1. I’m recommending my worst enemy...

The Dean and Changing the Culture

One of the most important functions deans provide for their schools is helping to shape the culture of the school. Changing a culture is also one of the most difficult things to do. Steve Denning, author of The Leader's Guide...

When faculty members misbehave

Israel Galindo Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond Times of high anxiety tend to bring out reactivity. There’s no question we’re living in anxious times, and theological schools are not exempt from the stress or threats of the era. In anxous...

The Thelogical School Dean’s Bookshelf

Israel Galindo Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond It's that time of the year when I cull my bookshelf. Nine bookcases of books at the office and four at home is more than I need. I'll put some volumes out on...

The School for Theological School Deans

Israel Galindo Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond Recently I spoke with a seminary dean in her fourth year in office. After four years she is stepping down, but takes some pride in having hit the top end of the average...

The Dean and Visual Communication (Part 1)

Israel Galindo Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond Deans work in complex systems and, often, need to communicate complex ideas when leading Faculty to interpret problems and determine solutions. I've found that using graphic interpretation of data helps facilitate communication and...

You probably should not be a dean if…

Israel Galindo Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond Deans in theological schools tend to come from the Faculty, for a variety of reasons. Sometimes it's a question of who is most willing to serve (or, who missed the meeting when the...

The Dean and Educational Effectiveness

Israel Galindo Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond Deans in theological schools face increasing demands to demonstrate educational effectiveness from accrediting agencies and constituents. For many theological schools, and for new deans, this can seem like an imposing challenge. Demonstrating educational...

The Dean and Change: Willfulness or Necessity?

Israel Galindo Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond Theological school deans serve in the capacity of institutional change agents. By virtue of leading from the center, deans bring about change through vision, influence, and, by pushing against inertia. As a person...

What Niccolo Machiavelli Can Teach Deans

Israel Galindo Baptist Theological Seminary at Richmond The relationship of the dean with faculty does not have to be adversarial, but it occasionally can be. Edwin Friedman wrote, “Living with crisis is a major part of leaders’ lives. The crises...