Dennis M. Barden is a senior partner with the executive-search firm WittKieffer. He works extensively with boards, senior institutional leaders, and search committees at both public and private institutions, and contributes to The Chronicle’s series on the executive-hiring process.
Stories by This Author
Advice
How videoconferencing is causing too many leadership searches to suffer from a severe case of “prolix syndrome.”
Advice
In the wake of Covid-19, the divide between the faculty and the administration on what must be done seems wider than ever. Navigating it will not necessarily be good for your career.
Advice
Time and again, leaders who choose to hang tough and not bail from a struggling campus find that their bold actions end up tainting their job prospects at other institutions.
Advice
As “headhunters,” we may be able to clarify things for you about an executive search, but we’re not going to coach you.
Advice
In hiring senior leaders, “trust the process” is a mantra that many campus groups have trouble following.
Advice
Instead of being a deal breaker, a mistake on a cover letter should be a chance to build trust on an executive search committee.
Moving Up
Some skeptics say no, but here’s why undergraduates deserve a seat at the table.
Moving Up
What if you couldn’t get a job because of that thing — that stupid thing from so long ago?
Advice
Is the model of the nontraditional president doomed because of the Mount St. Mary’s debacle?
Moving Up
Why more search committees are choosing confidentiality over the traditional public search.
