Sunser's Reflection

There are three main points that stuck out to me from Dr. Sunser's presentation last week. The first point is the changing nature of the college presidency in the 21st century. The second point concerns his personal approach to the presidency, and the last is related to the issues arising from external accountability. It is these three points that I will focus on throughout this reflection. Dr. Sunser made clear in the beginning of his discussion that the traditional path to the presidency is no longer dominant within higher education. He argues that, due to increased oversight and regulation, presidents must now be more savvy in finance and business than they have in the past. He also explained that attention from the community increases drastically when taking an executive leadership position. It is the above two aspects that dissuade me from ever seeking out a presidency. I have never been overly interested in the business or financial aspects of education, and I …show more content…
Dr. Sunser's approach to his work is something that resonates with me. He explained that, when he first got into his current position, he spent the initial six to twelve months getting to understand the culture before he made any changes. His rationale for not making changes was out of respect for the people who have built the current initiatives on campus, which is an honorable approach. Dr. Sunser also emphasized the importance of creating an environment of transparency, and surrounding himself with people who are not afraid to speak their mind. He also stated that it is important to give credit to others when things go well, and to take responsibility when things do not. From his comments, it seems like he sincerely appreciates and respects those who work for him, which is something that I will emulate in my own approach to