Some of the most valuable leadership happens not within a single department, but across them. The ability to bring people together — to align different teams, priorities, and perspectives around a shared goal — is one of the most sought-after qualities in higher education leadership today. Your résumé should reflect it.
As you continue your summer refresh, look for moments in your career where your influence extended beyond your immediate portfolio. Did you co-lead a cross-divisional initiative? Help bridge a longstanding gap between academic affairs and student services? Build a partnership that required navigating competing institutional priorities? Those experiences deserve a prominent place on your CV.
Collaboration at scale is a leadership skill — and search committees know it. The candidate who can demonstrate that they move fluidly across an institution, building trust and alignment as they go, is the candidate who stands out.
