ABSTRACT
Charles Thwing was an early observer of the College Presidency. He opined that the President’s office and title are part of a long and historical tradition characterizing the role. This chapter provides a brief context for aspirants to appreciate where the title Presidency originated and how it relates to their aspirations. The term Principal was first used in 1509 at Brasenose Oxford and was particularly common to denote senior leadership in women’s colleges. The United States (US) community college President generally arose from the secondary school sector. The first generation of community college presidents came from school principals and school superintendents. In 2020, the community college’s top executive positions are President, Superintendent/President, and Chancellor. The early version of the community college presidency’s roles was heavily influenced by standards and conditions designed by US university presidents. Cowley detailed four categories of community college presidential duties: superintending, facilitating, developing, and leading.
