Abstract
This essay presents a reflective analysis of how communication skills inform effective leadership in higher education and philanthropy. Drawing on personal experience as a department chair, college president, and foundation executive, the author argues that communication training equips administrators with critical competencies for addressing diverse constituencies and complex institutional demands. The discussion identifies four primary areas where communication expertise proves indispensable: listening, public speaking, group decision making, and media relations. Each is explored as both a theoretical and practical foundation for leadership. The essay also emphasizes the value of financial literacy and persuasive communication in managing organizational resources and fostering trust. Through detailed examples from academic and philanthropic contexts, the author contends that communication education cultivates flexibility, empathy, and ethical openness, which are essential for navigating administrative responsibility. The essay concludes that the study of communication provides not only technical skills but also a humanistic perspective that supports effective decision making and institutional integrity.
Recommended Citation
Hopkins, John E.
(1986)
"Communication and the College-Wide Administrator: A View from Up and Out,"
Association for Communication Administration Bulletin: Vol. 58, Article 10.
Available at:
https://stars.library.ucf.edu/aca/vol58/iss1/10
