You bring something unique to the table.
This is one of the lessons Susan Leigh learned after spending 20 years in academia and theater. When Leigh first accepted a position to teach acting and speech at DePaul University, she did not envision herself ever working outside of the theater school. But she came to realize that, while a professor could have a positive impact on the lives of a handful of students, an administrator who is passionate about student success could have an impact on the lives of thousands.
In "Lessons Learned from a Life in Theatre",┬" one of many unexpected stories in Leadership Lessons: Vision and Values for a New Generation(AACRAO, 2013), Leigh reflects on how her directing and acting experiences prepared her for her role as Associate Vice President for Enrollment, Management and Marketing at DePaul University.
"Be creative",┬" Leigh writes. "Don't change or adapt in order to be like everyone else. I brought many skills and lessons learned as an artist that one might think totally inapplicable, but I learned that one's uniqueness, above all, is one's personal strength, and it will fuel your personal contributions".┬"
Leigh's unconventional career path is just one of 22 counterintuitive and inspiring accounts in this compilation of stories from today's leaders in higher education.
The collection aims to pass on stories to the next generation about how these leaders came to be where they are, including their values, vision, and lessons learned. As Jerry Sullivan, former executive director of AACRAO, notes, "the diversity of leadership styles"┬" presented distinguishes it from a typical, narrowly-focused management handbook.
By: AACRAO Connect