W&M ScholarWorks Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects Theses, Dissertations, & Master Projects 2015 Culture Clash: A case study of the issues that non-traditional college presidents face in adjusting to academic culture Sean Michael Heuvel William & Mary - School of Education Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.wm.edu/etd Part of the Educational Leadership Commons, Higher Education Commons, and the Higher Education Administration Commons Recommended Citation Heuvel, Sean Michael, "Culture Clash: A case study of the issues that non-traditional college presidents face in adjusting to academic culture" (2015). Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects. Paper 1550154087. https://dx.doi.org/doi:10.25774/w4-3159-dx97 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Theses, Dissertations, & Master Projects at W&M ScholarWorks. It has been accepted for inclusion in Dissertations, Theses, and Masters Projects by an authorized administrator of W&M ScholarWorks. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Culture Clash: A Case Study of the Issues that Non-Traditional College Presidents Face in Adjusting to Academic Culture A Dissertation Presented to The Faculty of the School of Education The College of William and Mary in Virginia In Partial Fulfillment Of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Philosophy by Sean Michael Heuvel November 2014 Culture Clash: A Case Study of the Issues that Non-Traditional College Presidents Face in Adjusting to Academic Culture by Sean M. Heuvel Approved November 2014 by Pamela Eddy, PhD Chairperson, Doctoral Committee u Eddie Cole, PhD Abstract This study examined the issues that non-traditional college presidents face in adjusting to academic culture. Defined here as presidents who come from non-academic backgrounds, such as government, business, or the military, this paper used a case study design and pragmatist approach to analyze the experiences of three such individuals, Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower at Columbia University (1948-1953), former North Carolina Gov. Terry Sanford at Duke University (1969-1985), and former U.S. Sen. Paul S. Trible at Christopher Newport University (1996-present). A combination of historical research and interview formats were utilized to learn about the experiences that Eisenhower, Sanford, and Trible had in adjusting to academic culture at their respective universities. This study found that Eisenhower had a very difficult adjustment experience while Sanford and Trible were more successful in adapting to academic culture. This study concluded that for non-traditional presidents, vision, adaptability, commitment to institution, and prior academic exposure were key issues in facilitating a successful adjustment experience to academic culture. Keywords: academic culture, college president, non-traditional SEAN MICHAEL HEUVEL EDUCATION, POLICY, PLANNING, AND LEADERSHIP PROGRAM THE COLLEGE OF WILLIAM AND MARY IN VIRGINIA Table of Contents Abstract ...............................................................................................................iii List of Figures/Tables ........................................................................................ vii Chapter 1 - Introduction ....................................................................................1 Statement of the Problem ......................................................................2 Purpose of Study ....................................................................................4 Methods Summary.................................................................................5 Research Paradigm ................................................................................ 5 Research Questions Investigated ..........................................................6 Significance of the Study......................................................................7 Theoretical Perspective ......................................................................... 8 Definition of Key Terms.......................................................................9 Summary................................................................................................ 9 Chapter 2 - Review of Relevant Literature ......................................................11 Overview of Literature Review ............................................................12 The Evolution of the College Presidency ............................................ 12 Evolving responsibilities of the college president ..................15 Career paths leading to the college presidency ...................... 18 Defining Academic Culture ..................................................................20 Academic culture under threat ................................................. 29 Comparing academic culture to other cultures .......................31 Adaptive and Change Leadership .........................................................37 Conceptual Model..................................................................................46 Summary................................................................................................ 47 Chapter 3 - Methodology.................................................................................. 52 Research Questions Investigated ..........................................................53 Participants.............................................................................................54 Data Sources .......................................................................................... 57 Procedures for Data Collection ............................................................ 59 Procedures for Data Analysis............................................................... 64 Researcher Positionality........................................................................68 Limitations and Delimitations.............................................................. 70 Ethical Considerations .......................................................................... 71 Summary................................................................................................ 72 Chapter 4 - Dwight D. Eisenhower and Columbia University ...................... 73 Personal History.....................................................................................74 Historical Context..................................................................................76 Institutional Context..............................................................................80 Selecting a New President.................................................................... 85 Summary of Emerging Themes............................................................88 Frustration ..................................................................................90 Overextended..............................................................................96 Lack of academic experience..................................................... 101 Lack of institutional vision ........................................................ 105 Summary..................................................................................................109 Chapter 5 - Terry Sanford and Duke University............................................... I ll Personal History......................................................................................112 Historical Context...................................................................................114 Institutional Context................................................................................117 Selecting a New President...................................................................... 120 Summary of Emerging Themes..............................................................121 Vision..........................................................................................124 Commitment to Duke .................................................................128 Prior academic exposure.............................................................131 Relational approach ....................................................................134 Summary..................................................................................................139 Chapter 6 - Paul Trible and Christopher Newport University .........................140 Personal History......................................................................................141 Historical Context...................................................................................143 Institutional Context.............................................................................. 146 Selecting a New President.....................................................................149 Summary of Emerging Themes.............................................................150 Vision..........................................................................................153 Frustration ...................................................................................158 Adaptability................................................................................162 Consensus-building ....................................................................165 Summary................................................................................................. 169 Chapter 7 - Analysis, Conclusions, and Implications for Future Research. ..171 Analysis of Findings...............................................................................172