ABOUT THIS BOOK

Principled University Leadership: Critical Decision-Making in Academia is a personal account by university president Marc A. Johnson that draws on his extensive experience in academic administration. The book delves into four major themes: traits that lead individuals into leadership roles; economic principles influencing university decision-making; practical leadership strategies for fostering institutional progress; and approaches to navigating today’s critical challenges, including DEI and free speech.

Rooted in Johnson’s small-town origins and passion for civic engagement, this narrative offers unique insights into the path to university leadership and the key decisions leaders face. It is an invaluable resource for aspiring and current academic leaders seeking guidance in navigating the complexities of higher education.

AUTHOR BIOGRAPHY

Marc Johnson is professor emeritus of economics, and from 2011 to 2020 he served as the University of Nevada, Reno’s sixteenth president. Before becoming Nevada’s executive vice president and provost in 2008, he served as director of the Kansas Agricultural Experiment Station and Cooperative Extension Service, dean of the Kansas State University College of Agriculture, and dean of the College of Agricultural Sciences at Colorado State University. Johnson earned his BA in biology at Kansas State Teachers College, his MA in technology in international development from North Carolina State University, and an MA and PhD in agricultural economics from Michigan State University.

REVIEWS

“Johnson’s ability to tell stories is simply masterful, weaving application of leadership principles into his own accounts of success and lessons learned. He is an exemplar among those who serve in university executive leadership, and once I started reading this book, I could not put it down.”
—Gayle E. Hutchinson, EdD, president emerita, California State University, Chico

“Johnson effectively used his rural upbringing and commitment to public service as a backdrop to the key roles that he has played throughout his career. While the journey to the presidency is different for almost every leader, he presents a very compelling case for a more traditional path and how it informs the key decisions he made throughout his career in a variety of academic leadership roles.”
—Randy Woodson, chancellor, North Carolina State University

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Contents

Preface

Chapter 1. Formation of a University Leader

The Early Years

College

First Faculty Positions

Advancement in University Leadership Positions

Core Issues for University Leadership

Chapter 2. Economic Principles for University Leadership

Chapter 3. Charting Institutional Direction

Chapter 4. Budgeting and Finance in Good Times and Bad

Chapter 5. Diversity, Inclusion, and Free Speech

Chapter 6. Addressing Public Controversies

Chapter 7. The College Education Value Proposition

Epilogue

Notes

Index

About the Author

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