Overview
- Provides a robust resource for current and continuing community college leaders
- Guides leaders to systematically engage with higher education challenges
- Connects practical expertise and scholarship
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About this book
Written by scholars and past community college presidents, this book provides unique perspectives and tools for facing some of the most vexing problems for community college leaders. Structured for both current and aspiring presidents, the book introduces the 'challenge framework' and is structured the same way including the process for collecting information for the challenge, the approach to analyzing that information, a glimpse into how to structure potential initiatives to address the challenge, and a discussion on the follow-up processes for each challenge. By using the framework in this book to examine nine of the most significant challenges that college leaders face, the work shows how to apply the framework to common challenges and wicked problems in higher education.
The nine main challenges addressed in this book are situated in current research focused on executive college leaders and supplemented by the lived experience of college presidents to create a blend of theory and practice that best informs and prepares college leaders. The challenges focused on in this book include the executive leader search process, strategic enrollment management, board engagement, talent management, institutional politics, institutional finances, fundraising, inclusive programming, crisis management, and personal health. The challenges span the experience of being hired as a community college leader to the impact of leadership on one’s personal life. Taking this wholistic approach is critical because too much of the current research only focuses on the day-to-day work of presidents.
The nine main challenges addressed in this book are situated in current research focused on executive college leaders and supplemented by the lived experience of college presidents to create a blend of theory and practice that best informs and prepares college leaders. The challenges focused on in this book include the executive leader search process, strategic enrollment management, board engagement, talent management, institutional politics, institutional finances, fundraising, inclusive programming, crisis management, and personal health. The challenges span the experience of being hired as a community college leader to the impact of leadership on one’s personal life. Taking this wholistic approach is critical because too much of the current research only focuses on the day-to-day work of presidents.
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Table of contents (11 chapters)
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Front Matter
Authors and Affiliations
About the authors
Jon McNaughtan, PhD, is a Professor and Associate Dean at Texas Tech University, USA, where his research focuses on higher education leadership broadly, and executive leader decision making specifically. His studies have centered on how to empower faculty, staff, and student leaders in higher education.
Merrill Irving Jr., EdD, serves as the Senior Executive of Advisory Services at FERRILLI, a Higher Education Consulting Firm in the United States. As the Senior Executive of Advisory Services Dr. Irving works directly with college presidents and chancellors for organizational change and strategic directions . He has served in a variety of roles including college president. Dr. Irving leads a team that provides higher education strategy, thought leadership and planning for colleges and universities.
Terri Winfree, PhD, is the president of Dr. Terri L. Winfree and Associates, LLC, USA, and also serves as President of the Illinois Community College System Foundation. Before retiring from the Illinois Community College System, she served seven years as the President of Prairie State College (PSC) in Chicago Heights, Ill. Dr. Winfree held numerous leadership positions for 45 years. She serves on several boards and committees throughout the Chicago Southland.
Gregory Thomas, PhD, has over thirty years of higher education experience. Currently, Dr. Thomas serves as a Senior Consultant and Executive Director of Client Development & Innovation for RH Perry & Associates, USA. Previously, he served as the President of Kennedy-King College. Dr. Thomas has also occupied vice president and dean positions at various community colleges throughout the country.
Merrill Irving Jr., EdD, serves as the Senior Executive of Advisory Services at FERRILLI, a Higher Education Consulting Firm in the United States. As the Senior Executive of Advisory Services Dr. Irving works directly with college presidents and chancellors for organizational change and strategic directions . He has served in a variety of roles including college president. Dr. Irving leads a team that provides higher education strategy, thought leadership and planning for colleges and universities.
Terri Winfree, PhD, is the president of Dr. Terri L. Winfree and Associates, LLC, USA, and also serves as President of the Illinois Community College System Foundation. Before retiring from the Illinois Community College System, she served seven years as the President of Prairie State College (PSC) in Chicago Heights, Ill. Dr. Winfree held numerous leadership positions for 45 years. She serves on several boards and committees throughout the Chicago Southland.
Gregory Thomas, PhD, has over thirty years of higher education experience. Currently, Dr. Thomas serves as a Senior Consultant and Executive Director of Client Development & Innovation for RH Perry & Associates, USA. Previously, he served as the President of Kennedy-King College. Dr. Thomas has also occupied vice president and dean positions at various community colleges throughout the country.
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Bibliographic Information
Book Title: Facing Vexing Problems for Community College Leaders
Book Subtitle: Perspectives and Guidance
Authors: Jon McNaughtan, Merrill Irving Jr., Terri L. Winfree, Greg Thomas
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-032-10107-5
Publisher: Springer Cham
eBook Packages: Education, Education (R0)
Copyright Information: The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2025
Hardcover ISBN: 978-3-032-10106-8Published: 23 November 2025
Softcover ISBN: 978-3-032-10109-9Due: 07 December 2026
eBook ISBN: 978-3-032-10107-5Published: 22 November 2025
Edition Number: 1
Number of Pages: VII, 144
Number of Illustrations: 2 b/w illustrations
Topics: Higher Education, Administration, Organization and Leadership, Management Education, Educational Policy and Politics, Financial Accounting, Employee Health and Wellbeing
Keywords
- crisis management
- executive higher education leadership
- effective leadership strategies
- college presidents in the United States
- effective recruitment and marketing strategies
- student retention
- institutional success
- racial tensions in higher education
- institutional finances and fundraising
- effective DEI promotion in higher education
- campus illness outbreak
- well-being and effectiveness of college leaders