Central College President Mark L. Putnam offers a roadmap for navigating the complexities of leading colleges and universities in his new book, “Leading Across the Arc of Time,” published by Johns Hopkins University Press.
As higher education faces increasing pressures and constant change, leadership turnover has become a major barrier to long-term success. Putnam explores the paradoxes of the field — where innovation often clashes with tradition and the pace of societal demands exceeds institutional response.
He argues that true stability comes from focusing on long-term trends rather than quick fixes or temporary interventions. Drawing from historical patterns and organizational theory, Putnam outlines a model for adaptive leadership that prioritizes thoughtful, incremental change over rapid transformation.
“The future of higher education depends not on disruption, but on intentional and persistent adaptation,” Putnam writes. He challenges administrators, trustees and policymakers to move beyond rigid thinking and embrace the slow but necessary process of lasting reform.
For those committed to guiding academic institutions through today’s shifting landscape, “Leading Across the Arc of Time” offers vital insights and strategies rooted in both theory and experience.
