ABSTRACT
Leaders are more powerful role models when they learn than when they teach. This chapter discusses several competencies shown to be integral to successful community college leadership, whereas discussion of organizational theory is found. It explores the voices and experiences of the nine primary presidents in this study as they pertain to each of the six competencies identified by the American Association of Community Colleges. The chapter discusses the role of cultural competency in community college leadership and concludes with an analysis of how specific competencies—cultural competency in particular—contribute to multidimensional leadership. Organizational structure was often one of the initial areas addressed by the presidents when they first arrived on campus. Communication within a college and with external stakeholders is a central competency for community college leaders. Community colleges have a unique location in the higher education system that often subjects them to greater budget cuts and higher expectations.
