Trust has been identified as the most critical competency for college and university presidents in post-pandemic leadership and has been explored extensively as a primary component of organizational alignment. Additionally, the degree of trust within an organizational environment directly informs the degree to which change initiatives are successful. Trust is a complex challenge, though; it’s hard to build and easy to break, and trustworthy behavior does not always engender trust. To pursue the greatest degree of buy-in and momentum possible through institutional change, leaders must seek to build trust with campus stakeholders. This session will connect research on trust-building with leaders navigating complex change on their campuses in order to explore the challenges, wins, and realities of leadership in this context.
Emma Jones, Executive Vice President, Credo: Powered by Carnegie
Shannon Lundeen, President, Stephens College (MO)
Matt vandenBerg, President, Ohio Wesleyan University
Suzanne Walsh, President, City University of Seattle (WA)