Abstract
In some respects, sociologists might seem to be the least obvious candidates for a deanship. They question authority and debunk bureaucracy. Yet they can be found in dean’s offices serving successfully. This paper discusses the seeming contradiction between the discipline of sociology and the position of academic dean. It is argued that the discipline of sociology can prepare one to succeed at deaning in numerous ways, including transitioning into the role, resolving unavoidable role conflict, and adopting an administrator’s perspective.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bray, N. J. (2003). Differences among faculty members’ perceptions of norms for academic deans. Presented at the annual meeting of the Association for the Study of Higher Education, Portland Oregon.
Buchwald, A. (1989). International Herald Tribune (Paris), May 24.
Bright, D. F., & Richards, M. P. (2001). The Academic deanship: Individual careers and institutional roles. San Francisco: Jossey-Bass.
Cohen, M. D., & March, J. G. (1974). Leadership and ambiguity: The American college president. New York: McGraw-Hill.
Gmelch, W. H., Wolverton, M., Wolverton, M. L., & Sarros, J. C. (1999). The academic dean: an imperiled species searching for balance. Research on Higher Education, 40(6), 717–740.
Huber, J. (1995). Institutional perspectives on sociology. The American Journal of Sociology, 101(1), 194–216.
Moore, K. M., Salimbene, A. M., Martier, J. D., & Bragg, S. M. (1983). The structure of presidents’ and deans’ careers. The Journal of Higher Education, 54(5), 500–515.
Tucker, A., & Bryan, R. A. (1991). The academic dean: Dove, dragon, and diplomat. New York: Macmillan.
Wolverton, M., & Gmelch, W. H. (2002). College deans: Leading from within. Westport, CT: American Council on Education/Oryx Press.
Wolverton, M., Wolverton, M. L., & Gmelch, W. H. (1999). The impact of role conflict and ambiguity on academic deans. The Journal of Higher Education, 70(1), 80–106.