Synopses & Reviews
College and university presidents are shrouded in mystique, balancing consensus-driven leadership with bottom-line business. Grappling with the needs of trustees, students, parents, academic staff, and public policymakers, today's college and university presidents and chancellors face substantial--and risky--challenges. Here, Budig shares his insights with disarming clarity and candor. His broad experience elucidates the "uncommon skills" required to survive, and prosper, in the little-taught and rarely understood profession of university leadership. Budig's commentary ranges from how a president works with the mayor and town council, to the challenges of intercollegiate athletics, to what it's like to ask for a million dollars. He tackles such issues as:
Whom a novice president can trust Press conferences and "keeping on message" for varied audiences Crisis management The sacrifice of personal time and private family life Anticipating danger and seizing opportunity Emotional and physical health in the face of overwhelming obligation Development, and implementation, of a compelling visionReview
"This is a must read book for those who want to understand higher education, its leaders, and their vital work. Gene Budig is an accomplished doer and perceptive thinker, and his book comes with a bonus: humorous and insightful peeks into professional baseball by a major leaguer in both the worlds of education and sports." - C. Peter Magrath, President, National Association of State Universities and Land-Grant Colleges
Review
"A Game of Uncommon Skill should be part of the core curriculum for all new university presidents. I found Gene Budig's insight invaluable. The book is a fastball right down the middle." - Bob Kerry, President, New School University, former United States Senator
Synopsis
Grappling with the needs of trustees, students, parents, academic staff, and public policymakers, today's college and university presidents and chancellors face substantial--and risky--challenges. The author shares his insights with disarming clarity and candor. His broad experience elucidates the uncommon skills required to survive, and prosper, in the little-taught and rarely understood profession of university leadership.
College and university presidents are shrouded in mystique, balancing consensus-driven leadership with bottom-line business. Grappling with the needs of trustees, students, parents, academic staff, and public policymakers, today's college and university presidents and chancellors face substantial--and risky--challenges. Here, Budig shares his insights with disarming clarity and candor. His broad experience elucidates the uncommon skills required to survive, and prosper, in the little-taught and rarely understood profession of university leadership.
Budig's commentary ranges from how a president works with the mayor and town council, to the challenges of intercollegiate athletics, to what it's like to ask for a million dollars. He tackles such issues as: BL Whom a novice president can trust BL Press conferences and keeping on message for varied audiences BL Crisis management BL The sacrifice of personal time and private family life BL Anticipating danger and seizing opportunity BL Emotional and physical health in the face of overwhelming obligation BL Development, and implementation, of a compelling vision
Synopsis
Gene Budig, who led Illinois State University, West Virginia University, the University of Kansas, and--most famously-- Baseball's American League, shares his insights on complicated leadership with disarming clarity and candor.