It's not the "dark side" if you approach it with insight, wit, and
compassion.
Most new college and university administrators, especially if they come
directly from the faculty ranks or from outside academia, receive little
if any training. Rather, they try to succeed mostly by stumbling through
the (semi-)dark with a combination of their own knowledge and experience
as well as on-the-job learning. This can lead to costly (for the
administrator and the institution) mistakes as well as professional
failures and campus-wide miseries.
In An Insider's Guide to University Administration, Daniel Grassian
helps those currently in faculty positions or outside academia determine
whether a career in college and university administration is right for
them--and, if so, how to best position themselves for success. Applying
theory to real, practical examples of university administration,
Grassian provides both prospective and current administrators with an
in-depth critical analysis of areas pertinent to college and university
administration, including leadership, management, vision, diversity,
ethics, and fund-raising.
Drawing on his varied, extensive teaching and administrative career,
Grassian leaves readers with a better understanding of what those in
college and university administration do and the important practical,
political, and ethical issues with which they engage.