The two jobs—"skill sets" as they are often portrayed—are very different. But many experienced faculty members at least flirt with the idea of going into administration. In fact, TCCTA sponsors a highly successful conference each summer called "Leading from the Middle," which is designed in part for those making the switch, or perhaps just thinking about it. The list is long of those who may be brilliant at one vocation, but disastrous at the other. Some college presidents teach classes each semester, which can earn kudos from faculty members. On the other hand, there are schools with great faculty morale that are led by administrators with little or no teaching experience.
The anonymous "Dean Dad" of Inside Higher Ed., in the regular Confessions of a Community College Dean column, recently received a request for advice from a faculty member (at a university) on likely job prospects around the country. But the questioner also wanted some tips on making the transition. "Dean Dad" used to be a faculty member, but now is an administrator at a community college. He responds candidly, saying, among other things, that he personally was better suited to administration than instruction. He lays out the various bureaucratic components of a typical community college, likely spots for job growth, and the advantages and pitfalls of each. It's worth a read.
The article is here, available for free.
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