ABSTRACT
The engagement of the senior student affairs officer (SSAO) in the social environment of an institution and its external community is an important aspect of the SSAO's leadership role. This chapter looks at the following questions: How do SSAOs engage in leadership within the social environment? With whom do SSAOs engage within the social environment? What types of communication and interaction appear to be the most utilized and the most effective for the leaders in their social interactions? The SSAOs were very forthcoming about the dimensions and dynamics of their social interactions that form the basis for their leadership engagement in the social environment. Many of the SSAOs indicated that they are increasingly spending more time in leadership and community service roles beyond the campus. Another area that the leaders considered a critical part of their engagement with the social environment was their attention to and continual involvement with communication on every level of the organization.
