Lessons from the flames: Leadership and resilience

Abstract

Late in 2022, I submitted an essay to C&RL News on how my leadership skills and abilities have evolved since the publication of my 2016 article “At least you didn’t burn the place down: Leadership isn’t for everyone.” I explained how personal growth combined with the confluence of timing and institutional support provided me with a unique leadership opportunity to serve as the library’s interim co-dean and then as the library’s association dean of academic engagement at New College of Florida, a public liberal art honors college. Since its submission, my now-former employer has been thrown into chaos as the result of a hostile political takeover. The college president and other administrators have been fired (including yours truly), five faculty members were denied tenure by the newly appointed board of trustees aligned with Florida Governor Ron DeSantis, strategic decisions continue to be hashed out behind closed doors, and the college has been thrust into the national media spotlight. Needless to say, it’s been an exhausting and heartbreaking experience. It was clear that I needed to write a new response to my 2016 article that addressed my growth and professional development over the past seven years but also one that included how I navigated this crisis from a leadership position