Leadership of liberal arts colleges (LACs) is strongly influenced by the distinctive nature of this type of higher education institution. Most LACs are relatively small (500–2,500 students), residential, undergraduate institutions and offer a curriculum based in traditional liberal arts fields (e.g., arts, humanities, social and natural sciences) rather than professional fields (e.g., business, nursing, journalism). While leadership in general refers to the ability to lead other people, leadership in the LAC must be closely aligned with the mission and nature of these small communities.

[Page 989]When discussing organizational behavior, Lee Bolman and Terry Deal claim that leadership varies with context and relationships and is distinct from one’s position. That means one’s rank or authority alone do not guarantee effective leadership. Leadership must be closely connected to ...