The Dynamics of Communication: Department Chair Responsibilities

Abstract

In this paper, I highlight several facets of personnel issues that can arise during one's time as a mathematics department chair and recommend communication strategies to address them. The strategies involve situations with individual faculty members, general communication with faculty, and communication with the administration.

Keywords:

• Department chair
• communication

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

The author would like to thank his colleagues at Longwood University for the experiences that have shaped him. The author would also like to thank the referees for their useful suggestions.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

David Shoenthal

David Shoenthal earned his Ph.D. in Mathematics at Penn State University and began working at Longwood University immediately afterwards. He is currently Associate Provost/Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs and Professor of Mathematics. In his spare time he enjoys spending time with his family and occasionally playing (and losing) a round of disc golf.