Leadership Succession and Institutional Resilience
Leadership transitions are a defining challenge for higher education today. As presidential tenures shorten and leadership roles face heightened scrutiny, colleges and universities are experiencing unprecedented turnover at the top. Between 2022 and 2024, turnover in senior leadership roles surpassed 20%—a record that signals mounting pressures and the urgent need for robust succession planning. The recent resignation of James E. Ryan, president of the University of Virginia, who stepped down amid federal government pressure related to a Justice Department investigation into the university’s diversity initiatives, exemplifies the complex political and operational challenges leaders now face. Similarly, the blocked appointment of Santa J. Ono at the University of Florida highlights how external forces can abruptly disrupt leadership transitions, underscoring the fragility of these moments and the critical need for strategic succession planning.
Yet, these moments of change also present opportunities. Institutions that treat leadership succession as a strategic, long-term investment (and not a reactive fix) are better positioned to sustain momentum, retain talent, and build lasting resilience.
Rethinking Leadership Transitions: A Strategic Imperative
Traditional approaches to succession often focus on emergency replacements, leaving institutions scrambling to fill gaps. Today’s environment demands a more proactive, holistic strategy, one that develops talent from within, ensures knowledge continuity, and prepares the entire organization for change.
Building a Leadership Pipeline
Many faculty and staff possess the potential to lead but lack access to structured development pathways. Without intentional support, promising leaders may be overlooked, and institutional knowledge can be lost. A skills-based development plan, supported by ongoing training and mentorship, is essential for cultivating future chairs, deans, and administrators.
HigherEd+ addresses this need by offering a comprehensive suite of academic leadership courses. These programs clarify the responsibilities of leadership roles, demystify hiring and onboarding processes, and provide practical strategies for managing teams and driving change. By investing in internal pipelines, institutions reduce their reliance on external searches and foster a more inclusive, diverse leadership culture.
Ensuring Continuity Through Structured Transitions
Effective transitions require more than a handoff—they demand careful planning, knowledge transfer, and clear communication. Structured overlap periods, where outgoing and incoming leaders collaborate, have proven effective in maintaining operational continuity and supporting both parties during the transition.
HigherEd+ supports these transitions by equipping new leaders with foundational training on institutional processes and responsibilities, while also guiding outgoing leaders on how to mentor successors and plan for their own next steps. This approach minimizes disruption and ensures that leadership changes are opportunities for growth rather than sources of instability.
Fostering Campus-Wide Resilience
The most resilient institutions are those that anticipate change and build leadership capacity at every level. Preparing individuals for leadership roles, whether they are stepping up unexpectedly or navigating planned transitions, helps maintain momentum and confidence across the organization.
HigherEd+ provides targeted training on the real-world demands of academic leadership, from managing faculty and staff to navigating complex governance challenges. This distributed approach to leadership development ensures that departments and governance bodies are aligned, capable, and ready to respond to change.
The HigherEd+ Advantage
What sets HigherEd+ apart is its evidence-based, scalable, and multilingual approach to leadership development. Institutions benefit from:
- Customizable learning pathways for aspiring and current leaders
- On-demand, self-paced modules that fit busy academic schedules
- Practical tools for succession planning, onboarding, and mentorship
- Measurable outcomes that demonstrate improved readiness and retention
By proactively cultivating talent and supporting leaders at every stage, colleges and universities can turn transitions into catalysts for progress.
Take the Next Step
Leadership transitions are inevitable—but disruption is not. With the right strategy and support, institutions can build a resilient leadership culture that thrives in times of change.
Ready to strengthen your leadership pipeline? Pilot HigherEd+ today—no delays, no disruption, measurable impact from day one. To learn more, message us at support@higheredplus.org
