To the Editor. A good number of articles devoted to academic leadership in pharmacy have stressed the “graying” of the American dean. One of the projects on succession planning by last year's cohort of the Academic Leadership Fellows Program (ALFP) stated that 30% of academic pharmacy deans were approaching retirement. Recent American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP) meetings have also had forums on the need for leaders in the next 5 years or so.
The question therefore is, are we ready? At the associate deans' meeting at the annual AACP meeting in Boston in July 2009, a senior associate dean from an established state school lamented the fact that “young-uns” without much academic experience were either thrown into or self-selected themselves for administrative positions. Now this was certainly not a good augur. In contrast, this person had spent years climbing the academic ladder to the rank of full professor, had worked in 2 state schools, and then moved into administration. Certainly, there is no substitute for experience. However, with the expansion of pharmacy programs across the country, the need for administrators has certainly led to academia picking its share of “young-uns.”
Is pharmacy a microcosm of the United States or an aberration? Well, we have a fairly-young President, a Southern governor who is in his late 30s, several CEOs of silicon valley come to mind who are yet to touch 40, the youngest Super Bowl winning coach at 36, and most recently a 33-year-old head coach calling the “wild horses” play for the Denver Broncos.
This, however, does not mean that “young-uns” should consider it their right to lead their institutions but rather they are inheriting a privilege that their predecessors have forged. When I look around at some of my assistant/associate deans colleagues, I see a growing number of younger people. I do not know the exact age range that classifies people as young, but yes, most of these “young-uns” are in their late 30s to late 40s. Needless to state, I fall within these ranks, something that was not the norm even 10 years ago.
So what are we “young-uns” doing to claim our place and show ourselves worthy of the responsibilities given to us? Just being young and brave is not the only criteria. Some of my friends across the country have mentioned that we bring a different side to leadership—something that was not considered de rigueur in deans. We display the characteristics that Cohen has reported in his article titled “Today's’ Mandate for Pharmacy Deans.” (AJPE 2009; 73:1, Article 19). What are we doing to become the “Clooneys” and “Pitts” of academic leadership? Well, speaking for myself, I have started taking more leadership and management training—not a far cry from my PhD in Pharmacy Administration. I am also a current member of the Academic Leadership Fellows Program (ALFP) 2009-2010 cohort. Not surprisingly, many of the fellows in the ALFP cohort, both past and present, seem to fall within the definition of “young-uns.”
Speaking to friends across the country, most of us “young-uns” are learning on the job as well as taking courses/classes to be more effective leaders. Kudos go to the current deans—including the 3 who hired me—who see our latent potential and then nurture us, guide us, and help us get ready for the No. 1 job. There is a need for people at the helm, and true to the spirit in which this great country was founded, we are prepared to meet the challenge. Passion and hard work is not a substitute for experience, but we are trying and the deans are behind us all the way!
Arjun Dutta, PhD
Touro College of Pharmacy