Turnover of higher education executives is high and expected to accelerate in the post-pandemic context. An analysis of applications from the most recent Carnegie Community Engagement Classification revealed that nearly 75 percent of institutions experienced turnover in presidential and/or senior academic officer positions.

Executive transition periods create uncertainty for leaders who seek to sustain and strengthen engagement as an institutional priority. Moreover, new leaders may take on strategic priorities that may appear to be misaligned – or even in competition – with the institution’s engagement agenda. Drawing on a curriculum created by the Engagement Academy for University Leaders, this workshop will help engagement leaders discern how to position engagement as a priority for new executives as they assume their roles.

Participants will engage with testimonies of engagement leaders, readings, and small group discussions that explore ways for engagement to thrive during executive leadership transitions.