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Patching Up the “Leaking Leadership Pipeline”: Fostering Mid-career Faculty Succession Management

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Abstract

The research presented here contributes to research and practice focused on faculty leadership development by examining the leadership pipeline for mid-career faculty in a consortium of 13 liberal arts colleges. Research findings revealed that mid-career faculty members are in the leadership pipeline, with the department chair position serving as an entry point. However, leadership aspirations beyond the department chair position decline serving as a source of the leaking leadership pipeline. Differences were found by gender. Further, issues of lack of preparation for current and future leadership roles was connected to few mid-career faculty members aspiring to executive leadership positions. Implications for research and practice are discussed.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Albion College, 611 E. Porter Street, Albion, MI, 49224, USA

    Vicki L. Baker

  2. University of North Carolina, Wilmington, NC, USA

    Laura Gail Lunsford

  3. University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, USA

    Meghan J. Pifer

Authors
  1. Vicki L. Baker
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  2. Laura Gail Lunsford
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  3. Meghan J. Pifer
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Correspondence to Vicki L. Baker.

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Baker, V.L., Lunsford, L.G. & Pifer, M.J. Patching Up the “Leaking Leadership Pipeline”: Fostering Mid-career Faculty Succession Management. Res High Educ 60, 823–843 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11162-018-9528-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11162-018-9528-9

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