Chairs of departments and academic units on campus participate in the annual Chairs Institute (every fall) and in quarterly Chairs Workshops. Those events present opportunities to learn about Stanford-wide initiatives, discuss issues and present on topics of mutual interest.
Department Chairs Workshop
Several afternoon workshops for department chairs are organized every year on topics of relevance to their responsibilities. Hosted by Vice Provost Karen Cook, each workshop brings various individuals to showcase and discuss various initiatives.
Department Chairs Institute
An annual fall day-long institute for returning and new chairs of academic departments, the Chairs Institute provides an opportunity for networking, exposure and discussion to key University initiatives in order to prepare department leaders for their upcoming responsibilities.
Development Programs for Stanford Leaders
University Human Resources organizes a number of programs for chairs and other aspiring members among the faculty who show potential and capacity for leadership at Stanford. The programs are cohort-based and by nomination, usually from the Dean or the Vice Provost for Faculty Development and Diversity. The programs with faculty participants are:
Additionally, there are programs for leadership development such as Voice and Influence Program through the Clayman Institute for Gender Research, the Leopold Leadership Program at the Woods Institute for the Environment, and several programs focused on various areas of leadership in business and other organizational settings through Executive Education at the Graduate School of Business.
Suggested Selected Readings on Academic Leadership
The Department Chair. Quarterly journal that discusses topics of leadership and management for chairs across institutions. Stanford University has an institutional subscription, so current and past issues are available via Stanford University Libraries. See sample articles on the publisher's website (Wiley)
Helping Educators Grow: Strategies and Practices for Leadership Development. By Eleanor Drago-Severson. Harvard Education Press. 2012.
Leadership on the Line: Staying Alive through the Dangers of Leading. By Ronald Heifetz and Marty Linsky. Harvard Business School Press. 2002.
The Power of Full Engagement: Managing Energy, Not Time, Is the Key to High Performance and Personal Renewal. Jim Loehr and Tony Schwartz. Free Press. 2003.
Coaching and Mentoring: How to Develop Top Talent and Achieve Stronger Performance. Harvard Business School Press. 2004.
Shooting in the Dark: Tales of Coaching and Leadership. By JIm Thompson. Warde Publishers. 1998.
How Colleges Work: The Cybernetics of Academic Organization and Leadership. By Robert Birnbaum. National Center for Postsecondary Governance and Finance. Wiley. 1991.
