10. “At the Pleasure of the President:” A Conversation with Joan F. Lorden
From EdUp Provost by Association of Chief Academic Officers (ACAO)
November 5, 2025 · 32 min · Season 3 · Episode 10
About this episode
Dr. Joan F. Lorden discusses her insights on the provost's relationship with the president and strategies for effective leadership.
In this conversation with EdUp Provost host Dr. Gregor Thuswaldner, Dr. Joan F. Lorden discusses her chapter, “At the Pleasure of the President,” from The Chief Academic Officer’s Handbook: A Provost’s Guide to Visionary Leadership (Johns Hopkins University Press, 2025). She offers valuable insights into the provost’s relationship with the president, emphasizing the importance of trust, communication, and balancing faculty needs with institutional priorities. Dr. Lorden explores strategies for building strong presidential partnerships, managing crises, preparing for leadership transitions, and navigating the complexities of fostering institutional growth and transformation.Takeaways• A newly hired provost should start with a reservoir of trust.• Honesty and transparency are crucial in building relationships.• Understanding the institution's culture is key for success.• Provosts must balance confidentiality with transparency to faculty.• Explaining funding streams to faculty is essential for trust.
People in this episode
Host: Dr. Gregor Thuswaldner
Guest: Dr. Joan F. Lorden
Topics covered
- provost relationship
- presidential partnerships
- institutional growth
- leadership transitions
- trust and communication
Keywords
- provost
- president
- trust
- communication
- leadership
- faculty needs
- institutional priorities
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Johns Hopkins University Press
Books & works: The Chief Academic Officer’s Handbook: A Provost’s Guide to Visionary Leadership
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