Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Sociologist as Dean and Dean as Sociologist

  • Published:
The American Sociologist Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This article highlights contrasts between the identity and values of sociology faculty members versus the identity and values of college administrators. Some of these contrasts include: questioning authority and speaking truth to power versus being in a position of authority and engaging in political compromise; taking a critical, reflective, and independent stance as a scholar versus a dean taking a stance of positive attitude and setting direction in the organization; and acting in an egalitarian and democratic fashion versus acting in a discriminating manner and making executive decisions. This article also explores the ways in which being a sociologist can inform a dean’s understanding of the structure and organizational life of the college and the group dynamics among faculty, students, administrators, and other constituents.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Burke, P. J. (2006). Identity change. Social Psychology Quarterly, 69(1), 81–96.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Burke, P. J., & Reitzes, D. C. (1981). The link between identity and role performance. Social Psychology Quarterly, 44, 83–92.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Burke, P. J., & Tully, J. C. (1977). The measurement of role identity. Social Forces, 55, 881–897.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fish, S. (2004). What did you do all day? Chronicle of Higher Education, November 24: C2.

  • Fish, S. (2005). Chickens: The Ward Churchill and Larry Summers story. Chronicle of Higher Education, May 13: B9.

  • Gmelch, W. H. (2000). Leadership succession: How new deans take charge and learn the job. Journal of Leadership Studies, 7(3), 68–87.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Johnson, S. (1998). Who moved my cheese?. New York: Putnam.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mills, C. W. (1959). The sociological imagination. New York: Oxford.

    Google Scholar 

  • Wolverton, M., & Gmelch, W. H. (2002). College deans: Leading from within. Westport, CT: American Council on Education/Oryx.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. College of Humanities, Arts, & Social Sciences, Utah State University, 0700 Old Main Hill, Logan, UT, 84322-0700, USA

    Gary Kiger

Authors
  1. Gary Kiger
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Gary Kiger.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Kiger, G. Sociologist as Dean and Dean as Sociologist. Am Soc 39, 110–113 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12108-008-9041-2

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12108-008-9041-2

Keywords

Search

Navigation