A professor’s life after becoming the university presidential partner

Abstract

The purpose of this qualitative study was to identify a public, state‐supported university’s role expectations of the presidential partner. The study identified various challenges and obstacles, as well as useful strategies for retaining the presidential partner’s professional identity as a professor. This paper will provide a glossary of terminology unique to this under‐reported population followed by a brief literature review of the history of the role expectations for public university presidential partners. The paper will continue with role theory as the framework, the methodology used in developing the study, and discuss the results with supporting narrative. The paper will conclude with a discussion of the results and further implications for practical use and research.