Abstract
This article delineates the essential competencies and preparatory pathways required for effective academic administration within theatre and related arts programs. Framing administration as a profession often entered by circumstance rather than intention, the discussion emphasizes leadership as a creative and managerial endeavor grounded in human relationships rather than bureaucratic control. The author identifies nine critical skills: leadership, motivation, conflict resolution, planning, legal literacy, financial management, bureaucratic navigation, problem-solving, and communication. Each is presented as a necessary attribute for sustaining academic programs in resource-limited environments. The paper further outlines avenues for developing these skills, including committee work, professional reading, engagement with administrative associations, and formal leadership training programs such as the American Council on Education Fellows Program. Through a synthesis of practical and philosophical reflection, the article portrays academic theatre administration as both an art and a discipline, demanding strategic vision, interpersonal dexterity, and commitment to service within higher education.
Recommended Citation
Whitmore, Jon
(1986)
"Academic Theatre Administration,"
Association for Communication Administration Bulletin: Vol. 58, Article 3.
Available at:
https://stars.library.ucf.edu/aca/vol58/iss1/3
