In recent years, concerns over the future of community college leadership have
intensified because of the looming retirements of college presidents who started their
careers in the 1960s and 1970s. With senior administrative turnovers continuing to rise at
the Chief Executive Officer and Chief Academic Officer levels, community colleges are
looking for ways to prepare for leadership transition and succession in order to continue
to operate effectively. Although the middle managerial position is often used as a
stepping stone for senior administrative positions, little is known about the mid-level
administrators and their roles. With little research on mid-level administrators, their
roles, and the processes in which they develop their leadership skills, community
colleges are not equipped with resources to tap into this potential and abundant
leadership pool successfully.
The purpose of this study was to understand the experiences of mid-level
administrators in California community colleges, the challenges they face in their