Midlevel managers in the community college often find themselves unprepared for the responsibilities of their complex position. This volume of New Directions for Community Colleges presents the qualities that experienced department chairs cite as being crucial to success and makes a persuasive argument for the need to develop formal training programs for people newly appointed to these positions. The authors discuss leadership theories that can inform and inspire the practice of community college chairs, and they offer a variety of effective leadership development programs designed specifically to meet the unique training needs of midlevel managers in the community college.

This is the 105th issue of the Jossey-Bass series New Directions for Community Colleges.