Up and Running

Up and Running gives insight into the authors' own journey into the creation of the leadership program at the Community College of Philadelphia and inspires readers to replicate similar programs at their own institutions. * The Department Chair * The dearth of sustainable leadership programs in community colleges is causing many institutions' trustees and administrators to question their colleges' ability to address critical issues in a timely manner, let alone innovate and stay relevant in a vastly changing community, state, nation, and world. A road map for institutional leadership, such as Up and Running: Starting and Growing a Leadership Program at a Community College, grounded in the mission, vision, and values of one's own college and with ownership by its employees makes ongoing systematic change possible. -- Rufus Glasper Ph.D, President and CEO, League for Innovation in the Community College; Chancellor Emeritus, Maricopa Community College It is undeniable that strong and innovative leadership at our nation's institutions of higher education is instrumental in ensuring our colleges and universities remain beacons of hope for the next generation of changemakers. In our rapidly changing world, academic leaders must embrace some risk-taking and foster ingenuity on their campuses. But it is only through the acquisition of specific skills that these leaders can succeed while fulfilling our mission as educators to provide quality, accessible and affordable learning opportunities to all. Up and Running: Starting and Growing a Leadership Program at a Community College is an invaluable and necessary tool for those of us charged with mentoring professionals in academia and creating pathways that will prepare them for the leadership roles of tomorrow. -- Eduardo J. Padron Ph.D., President, Miami Dade College Up and Running: Starting and Growing a Leadership Program at a Community College by Susan Tobia and Judith Gay is a valuable resource focused on helping community colleges and/or other higher educational institutions address the next generation of educational leaders who will be needed to ensure community colleges remain responsive to the needs of their respective communities. A practical guide, it provides the elements necessary for a large or small, urban or suburban or rural college to assist in succession planning. -- John J. Sygielski Ed.D, President, Harrisburg Area Community College My experience in the Leadership Institute at Community College of Philadelphia was truly remarkable. The opportunity to explore the structure of the College from the position of a student allowed me to gain a fundamental understanding of my own leadership approach as well as the confidence to construct, propose, support, and implement new ideas and initiatives. When I eventually took the role of Department Chair, the leadership training and skills that I developed in that program were immediately and immensely beneficial. -- Sarah Iepson, Ph.D, Associate Professor of Art History, Art and Design Department Chair, Community College of Philadelphia Drs. Tobia and Gay present a tactical and nimble how-to approach to developing a successful leadership development program on college campuses. Much of what the authors highlight is well supported by various data sources, but what is most compelling is that the discourse often focuses heavily on leadership pipeline development in the abstract or in support of national programs that may be fiscally out of reach for many community colleges and smaller private institutions. Using their institution's model, Tobia and Gay offer a practical and successful alternative which can easily and feasibly be replicated at other community colleges or adapted to a variety of other higher educational contexts. -- Nicole Stokes-DuPass Ph.D., Associate Vice President, Institutional Effectiveness & Diversity/Professor of Sociology, Holy Family University;Pennsylvania State Chairperson, American Council on Education Women's Network (PA ACE)