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 todays critical challenges, including DEI and free speech.
Rooted in Johnsons 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.
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.
