The long, winding career route to becoming a college president is different for everyone who rises to the position. Some exclusively traverse the academic realm, perhaps as professors then as deans or provosts. Others come from nontraditional backgrounds, sometimes from the corporate sector as they shift gears and dedicate themselves to fostering education, enriching lives, and advancing society.
Everyone has their own unique story, to be sure. To find out more about the journeys that today’s college presidents take, WittKieffer conducted proprietary research on the subject, examining the career paths of the top 130 university presidents in the U.S. Our report, “Talent Insights: The Path to the College Presidency”, looks at a range of factors that play into achieving a presidency. Some of the key findings:
- More than nine in 10 (92%) of current presidents rose through the ranks in education, taking an average of 24 years to attain the role of president.
- Three in four (78%) current presidents were recruited externally rather than being appointed from within an institution for which they taught or served in administration.
- Presidents at leading universities continue to grow more diverse, with more than a quarter (26%) identifying as people of color.
This resource presents an intriguing picture of the college presidency – and the myriad routes leaders take to get there.
