In Trust Center President Amy Kardash reflects on leadership and the future.

New educational paths, Wise Stewards initiative, handling change in leadership, and much more.

Good advice and insightful voices can provide the guidance you need.

If your school is in transition now, or if you've recently completed a leadership change – or even if you are not even considering one – the issue of leadership transition ought to be a part of regular board discussions. Organizationalsuccession planning is the board's work.

Succession planning isn't just for a school's presiding officer. Having a plan for transitionand succession that applies to the entire institution can reduce stress and avert ad hoc emergency decision making when change inevitably occurs.

The Autumn 2018issue of In Trust magazine includes an interview with William Crothers, interim president at Ashland Theological Seminary. Crothers has served as an interim CEO five times since he retired in 2002 as ninth president of Roberts Wesleyan College. He was happy to share with In Trust readers some of the wisdom that he's gleaned over the years.

In Trust recently published an article titled "Promising Professor vs. Prominent Pastor," which pointed out that most theological schools hire CEOs who have moved up through the faculty ranks, while a third hire CEOs from leadership positions in their denomination or from the business world.

After a female faculty member was promoted into seminary leadership, a colleague stopped by her office to congratulate her. But he also asked, "Does this mean the school is in trouble?" It didn't — but the colleague was assuming the theory of the so-called "glass cliff" might be at play.

Becoming an effective leader in theological education -- whether as a president, dean, or board member -- usually requires intentional study and practice. Rarely does someone become a great leader through sheer instinct and natural talent. Rather, great leaders combine their natural gifts with the wisdom they gain from experts and real-world experiences.

According to a 2014 In Trust article by Heidi Schlumpf, "...interim or 'acting' presidents...can be valuable to a seminary, offering stability and continuity, achieving specific – often financial – goals, and providing time to reexamine mission and vision while searching for the most appropriate permanent leader."

When a school is looking for a new president, rumors fly and questions abound. The search process takes many months, and often confidentiality is paramount.

What's your process for hiring a new president?Many boards these days rely on consultants or executive search firms to identify candidates, vet their qualifications, gauge their interest, and make recommendations.

Planning for board officers vacancies should start well in advance with an intentional, smooth, and carefully designed transition plan.

Webinar 1 of a two-part series provides a change management framework to include best practice for leading change initiatives and common pitfalls to avoid. This session includes a consideration of institutional readiness for change, especially around the use of a strategic finance lens.

In this session, we consider the policies, practices, and key performance indicators most helpful to supporting the essential partnership between the president and the governing board.

Learn the value of having a trusted advisor and how to select one to meet your needs as a leader.

Join the discussion about how to plan well in advance of an anticipated change.

Join us for a series of conversations with leadership consultant, David Gyertson, about leadership transitions.

The sudden departure of a key leader can threaten your school's mission. But it can also be an opportunity for growth if you have nurtured a culture of leadership continuity.

What does it take to lead a theological institution today? Auburn Seminary is relaunching Auburn Studies, beginning with a valuable report on leadership. In this episode, the Rev. Dr. Patrick Reyes, dean of Auburn Seminary, shares key trends in the field, and study author, the Very Rev. Dr. Michael DeLashmutt of General Theological Seminary, explains what his research uncovered.

The Rev. Nancy Claire Pittman, Ph.D., is retiring as president of Phillips Theological Seminary in Tulsa, Oklahoma, after a long career in both the church and theological education. She reflects on the changes at Phillips and the transformation that has taken place there, including how the school uses the city as a place to learn. She also considers what she wished she knew about shared governance, working with a board, and the role of president.

Dr. David Gyertson has seen a variety of leadership transitions both in his own career and in his work as a consultant coaching boards and leaders in transition. As a leadership coach, he provides insights into what boards should do and how they should handle leadership transitions.

Just 13% of CEOs of ATS-accredited schools are women. In Trust Center President Amy Kardash discusses the pathways for women in leadership of theological schools and how boards can help women succeed.

Leadership coach Chris Thyberg shares how one-on-one coaching can produce tangible results.

Price Harding, chair of the executive search firm, CarterBaldwin, discusses the essentials of hiring a leader with In Trust Center president Amy Kardash.

Dr. David Gyertson, a former university president, consultant, and recruiter, discusses the intri-cacies of presidential transitions, highlighting both the pitfalls to avoid and the opportunities to seize for effective leadership changes.

In the second installment of the Consultant Series, Rev. Dr. William (Bill) Nelsen, senior consultant with The Registry, discusses interim leadership and how boards can best prepare for an interim leader in their institution.

In this episode of the Women in Leadership series, Amy Kardash speaks with Donna Alexander, president and CEO of Advoxum Global Strategies and board chair at the John Leland Center for Theological Studies, about her experience in guiding a board through a period of transition and the effective methods for boards to nurture and empower emerging leaders.

In this episode, two leading authorities in theological education discuss an inside perspective on the dynamics between an interim president and board members, with key insights for other interim leaders and the valuable role they play in the institution.