Presidential Update: “In Praise of My Predecessors”

DOUGLAS A. HICKS ‘90 DAVIDSON COLLEGE PRESIDENT

We have witnessed a parade of lousy leadership transitions in recent months. New head coaches are thrust into the job after their predecessors are abruptly fired; we see a true coaching carousel in multiple pro sports. The US House of Representatives created a weeklong spectacle when electing a speaker. And let us not forget Liz Truss, who followed Boris Johnson as the UK’s prime minister, but for only six weeks before being replaced by Rishi Sunak.

These bobbled handoffs more than disrupt an organization and require recovery. They rob the new leader of an invaluable resource – their predecessor.

At Davidson College, I am not only the new president. I am called Number 19. And it means something.

Of the 18 presidents who have served in the role, four of them are living. Indeed, they are living resources for me.

One of them offered me this support: “I won’t offer any unsolicited advice, but I will answer any question you ask.” These were welcome words for me, a new college president and an alum of my school.

I appreciated this outreach for two reasons. First, I know this former leader has institutional insight and wisdom gained from the role. I have already benefited from his advice at key