Introduction to Special Forum on Educational Leadership

摘要

Over the past few years, I have noticed that a number of program directors or Chairs of occupational therapy programs have "stepped down" or changed roles within their departments. They have become senior faculty members without the administrative title or responsibilities. Many of them have stayed at the same institution where they served as Chair. This is not the same as a revolving Chair position, which is used at some institutions of higher education. This is a voluntary decision on the part of the Chair to stay at their university, but in a different role. I began to wonder why would a program director contemplate such a change and then I found myself considering the same option. So these three short papers are from Chairs who have made, or will soon be making this transition. Each is at a different stage of the process, but their stories have some remarkable similarities. There has been no attempt to make these articles scholarly in nature; they are simply personal reflections. It will be interesting to see how these, and other Chairs who have "stepped aside," create their new roles and serve in new ways as leaders in the profession.