Empower Your Evolution as a University Leader

Substance Over Style: A Field Guide to Leadership in Higher Education examines the increasingly complex challenges and opportunities facing higher education leaders in today's highly polarized society. This practical field guide offers insights, lessons learned, and strategies to navigate future challenges successfully. Take a deep dive into the inner workings of universities and explore the intricate landscape of nuance and complexity of leadership substance rather than style.

Whether you are faculty, staff, a graduate student pondering leadership for the first time, or a trustee or experienced administrator exploring new leadership roles, Substance Over Style will empower your evolution as a leader.

This book is for:

• A must-read for aspiring and experienced university leaders


• A transformational journey for faculty, staff, graduate students, and trustees


• A road map for future higher education leaders


• Inspiration for the next generation of thoughtful academic leaders


• A deep dive into the world of academic leadership and the inner workings of universities


• Addresses attributes indispensable to building a meaningful and impactful career in leadership

This book will help the reader:

• Grow your confidence, skills, and purpose as a leader


• Observations, insights, and lessons about leadership


• Empower your evolution as a leader


• Explores the challenges and opportunities facing higher education


• Learn about the nuance of leadership substance over style


• Serves as a "compass" steeped in experience offering guidance and direction


• Learn to "think like an ecosystem" and extract clarity from complexity


• Lessons about decision-making, collaboration, and continuous improvement


• Practical strategies for planning, budgeting, resource allocation, and fundraising


• Challenge the status quo --- mobilize the community to pursue bold aspirations


• Bring leadership to life --- shape your career, values, and institution


• In-depth guidance for fiscal management tying strategic planning to the budget

DR. DONALD H. DEHAYES has held leadership positions in flagship public research universities for twenty-six years. He is currently Provost emeritus at URI and Dean emeritus of the Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources at The University of Vermont (UVM). His scientific career as a forest biologist and ecosystem ecologist inspired the field guide format for this book.