Hard-won, research-based lessons for department chairs committed to leading effectively while fostering equity and well-being.

Practical and inspiring, Colleague to Colleague offers a wealth of guidance for navigating one of higher education's most demanding, sometimes dreaded, roles-department chair. Departing from traditional administrative manuals, the volume brings together more then forty current and former chairs to provide timeless wisdom with a just-in-time approach. In brief, accessible, candid "Dear Colleague" letters, contributors blend lived experience with decades of leadership scholarship to give readers advice for dealing with real challenges when they need it. Topics include managing conflict, supporting faculty, fostering an equity-minded culture, strategic planning, leading as an interim chair, and more. Thematically organized and easily navigable, with reflective activities and practical tools throughout, the volume is ideal for leadership development programs, professional learning communities, and individual growth. In a time of shifting expectations and rapid change, Colleague to Colleage foregrounds human-centered strategies to help academic leaders thrive while advancing their departments and institutions.