How to Chair a Department

Thoughtful, practical, and helpful. I wish this book had been around when I started chairing; it would have made the transition smoother. Dettmar does an excellent job of describing the kinds of things that a new chair, who likely has never been in a supervisory position, should think about.

I love this book and wish it had been around before I wrote The Chair. No one is more informed on the subject of chairing than Dr. Dettmar, and this entertaining guide is an essential read for anyone navigating a career in the academy. 

Kevin Dettmar has written a generous book offering practical advice and strategic big-picture and local thinking indispensable to all aspiring and current department chairs. And more: he has written a must-read for anyone interested in the ideals and the principles of ethical leadership on our campuses. Dettmar writes about leadership uniquely, in the most humane and human terms, with wisdom, gentle humor, and modesty that belie his decades of experience.

Kevin Dettmar's How to Chair a Department is invaluable: it is cold-eyed and full of practical wisdom while also being learned and humane, and always grounded on the principle that leading a department is fundamentally about serving our students and colleagues. I wish I'd had this book before I started chairing.

The chair's is the job with all the responsibility and, often, none of the power, but Kevin Dettmar shows how a good chair can make a great impact. Dettmar is clear-sighted yet not at all cynical, and he's a great coach for those who want to learn to be not just academic administrators but academic leaders.