Administration
It’s long been my observation that in order to lead a university faculty, it's essential that the group feel their opinions are indeed important and valued. Hence, I believe strongly in shared governance. In my view, major decisions affecting a faculty should first be discussed together with a council comprised of at least a cross-section of senior members of the group, if not the entire team.

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In order to both maintain and continuously renew the Art and Design Department, strategic planning is an absolute necessity. This should interface seamlessly with an institution-wide plan, and should articulate the long-term vision and goals of the college succinctly and unambiguously. It is, in my opinion, the responsibility of deans and departmental heads to ensure that every member of a given faculty completely understand and support these goals. Even while I strongly endorse a policy of shared governance and consensus building, I am unafraid to take full responsibility for making potentially unpopular executive decisions when necessary. Still, these will be made consistently in consult with the faculty team.

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Leadership
I feel strongly that while there are many ways to function as a leader, no single approach is best for all situations. I consider a number of attributes to be important. A leader, especially in an academic setting, should in my opinion be intellectually curious, enthusiastic, and empathetic, as well as a forceful and passionate advocate for departments, programs, faculty and staff under her watch. I believe a leader must be forthright and sincere, as well as open-minded and of the very highest personal integrity.

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Also, while I feel strongly that the pursuit of excellence should be the guiding principle for faculty members at all times, I am equally convinced of the value of compassion in the face of adversity. I feel that fairness toward all constituencies should be beyond question, and that diversity is not only good for its own sake, but adds tangible value to institutions, the academy, and society. My goal is to lead by way of shared governance and consensus-building, effective mentoring at multiple levels, and perhaps most importantly, by example.