College trustees are hiring more leaders from outside the academy, and it is the self-made executives who generate the buzz. The reason, experts say, is that presidents with corporate experience know the vagaries of the marketplace, as well as the language of lawmakers, corporate executives, and donors. Too many college chiefs, says one source,…

As the events of Virginia Tech tragedy recede in time, leaders of other colleges and universities are sure to look at Virginia Tech president Charles W. Steger's performance and question the readiness of presidents to act like corporate executives, take visible control of a campus in crisis, manage the onslaught of cameras and microphones, and…

Since joining her city's first flat-track roller-derby league more than a year ago, the author relates that she discovered some surprising, interesting things about her university's tolerance for its employees' "second lives." To be taken seriously, the author relates that she offsets any possible concerns about her professional legitimacy by…

This article reports on the findings of a study of college presidents released by the American Council on Education. Although more members of minority groups and women lead higher-education institutions today than in the past, the study shows the rate of diversification in the president's office has been slow, particularly since the late 1990s.…

Reports on a survey showing that more colleges are hiring presidents from outside academe, and that most presidents are still white men. (EV)

Examines the growth of Hampton University (Virginia) during the 22 years that William R. Harvey has been president of this historically black institution. Cites views of Harvey as a visionary leader, tough taskmaster, and astute financial manager. Notes the growth of the institution's endowment, rising academic standards, and also some political…

Describes how Dennis Keller and Ronald Taylor, founders and corporate heads of DeVry University, differ in many ways, but share a common vision for the education company they jointly run. (EV)

Describes how Georgia Nugent brings her training as a classicist and her credibility as a scholar and teacher to her job leading Princeton's efforts in instructional technology. (EV)

The US Census Bureau reveals that although there are more than 41.3 million Latinos in the US as on 2004--about 14 percent of the population, only a very small percentage of them attend the country's elite colleges. A large part of the problem is that, like most of the nation, elite colleges and universities have little awareness of the…

After accepting the presidency of the College of Wooster (Ohio), a highly-qualified and respected woman withdrew the day before taking office in the wake of rumors about a long-term relationship with another woman. Concern within the college community about the situation centers on two issues: homophobia and privacy for administrators. (MSE)

Boston University's controversial president, John R. Silber, has published a book pinpointing a wide range of social, educational, and political problems and arguing for specific solutions. (MSE)

The new governors of five states (Alabama, California, Iowa, Massachusetts, South Carolina), all of whom are expected to influence state higher education policy, are profiled. Information includes election result summaries, proposed initiatives and policy directions concerning college and university financing and student aid, and challenges faced…

A recent study of the administrative characteristics, attitudes toward leadership and management, and personal and professional background of college presidents named by their peers as effective chief executives is reported. (MSE)

The new president of Spelman College, Johnnetta Cole, would like to make Spelman the leading center of international thought on the condition of Black women in the world. She wants to remain active as an academician and is finding time to pursue her scholarly work. (MLW)

One researcher mixes techniques of anthropological field work and statistical analysis in his studies of the cultural dimensions of business negotiation in different countries. (MSE)