Dennis M. Barden
Columnist
The Chronicle of Higher Education
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
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AdviceAre We Talking Too Much in Video Interviews?
How videoconferencing is causing too many leadership searches to suffer from a severe case of “prolix syndrome.” -
Advice
Academe Needs Courageous Leadership, but Too Often That Kills Careers
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
When Taking One for the Team Leaves a Permanent Mark
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
Is It Crossing a Line for a Search Consultant to Counsel a Job Candidate?
As “headhunters,” we may be able to clarify things for you about an executive search, but we’re not going to coach you. -
Advice
Shared Governance Works in Executive Hiring, if We Let It
In hiring senior leaders, “trust the process” is a mantra that many campus groups have trouble following. -
Advice
Candidacies Killed by a Typo
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
Do We Need a Student on the Search Committee?
Some skeptics say no, but here’s why undergraduates deserve a seat at the table. -
Moving Up
Every Sin Is a Public Sin
What if you couldn’t get a job because of that thing — that stupid thing from so long ago? -
Advice
Rumors of Its Death Are Greatly Exaggerated
Is the model of the nontraditional president doomed because of the Mount St. Mary’s debacle? -
Moving Up
Public, Private, or Hybrid?
Why more search committees are choosing confidentiality over the traditional public search.
