Other Duties as Assigned: Presidential Assistants in Higher Education (American Council on Education Series on Higher Education) [Hardcover]

Mark P. Curchack (Editor), Stephen Joel Trachtenberg (Foreword), Kevin Boatright (Contributor), Antoinette G. Gifford (Contributor), Steve Givens (Contributor), Richard P. Haven (Contributor), Laura Katrenicz (Contributor), Nancy Kelly (Contributor), Marcus Lingenfelter (Contributor), Michael McGreevey (Contributor), Belinda Miles (Contributor), Anthony R. Ross (Contributor), James J. Scally (Contributor), Marc Schaeffer (Contributor), Elizabeth Schoenfeld (Contributor), Emily Sinsabaugh (Contributor), Pamela Transue (Contributor)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 1607091720 | ISBN-13: 978-1607091721 | Publication Date: October 16, 2009

The position of presidential assistant is relatively new in the world of higher education and can still be a very hard-to-define occupation. In Other Duties as Assigned, veteran presidential assistants from all types of institutions describe the varied duties and responsibilities that they hold. The chapters span analyses of career paths, of gender, and of personal characteristics, as well as practical issues such as writing speeches, handling complaints, serving as the board secretary, and raising funds. The contributors have based their writing both on their experiences and on data from a national survey of the profession.

This book is a seminal body of work that gives a comprehensive understanding of the many dimensions of presidential assistants, as well as providing practical advice about several key features of the role. As such, Other Duties as Assigned serves as a reference to existing presidential assistants as well as a guide to presidents contemplating the creation of such a position.

Editorial Reviews

Review

This collection of observations on presidential assistants in higher education is long overdue. It will serve as an excellent orientation for those who are new to the role and as an affirmation of the valuable contribution of seasoned professionals. (Transue, Pamela )

For some years now, those interested in the presidential assistant's role have been starved for good information on how to be effective in that role. This collected set of papers fills this gap in the literature. As a former presidential assistant and now president, I believe this book provides important insights into the challenges and opportunities associated with this key but little understood role in higher education. (Joseph Tim Gilmour )

There is no one a university president talks to more regularly or depends on more consistently than his or her closest assistant. This book, drawing on the experiences and insights of people who have filled this role, demonstrates its complexity and its importance. An effective chief assistant to a president can anticipate, intercept, and solve problems before they reach a critical stage. He or she can help a president balance priorities and manage time, greatly increasing the likelihood of presidential success. Reading this book can help both presidents and their chief assistants define the terms of an effective relationship. (Robert Berdahl )

About the Author

Mark P. Curchack is the associate vice president for planning and assessment, executive director of the president's office, and secretary of the board for Arcadia University. He first served in the role from 1987-2001. After a seven-year stint as graduate dean, he returned in 2008 to his current position under a new president. An anthropologist and former professor, he holds degrees from Yale University and the University of California, Berkeley.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 176 pages
• Publisher: Rowman & Littlefield Publishers (October 16, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1607091720
• ISBN-13: 978-1607091721
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6.3 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,635,488 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)