This collection of observations on presidential assistants in higher education is long overdue. It will serve as an excellent orientation for those who are new to the role and as an affirmation of the valuable contribution of seasoned professionals.

Pamela Transue

For some years now, those interested in the presidential assistant's role have been starved for good information on how to be effective in that role. This collected set of papers fills this gap in the literature. As a former presidential assistant and now president, I believe this book provides important insights into the challenges and opportunities associated with this key but little understood role in higher education.

Joseph Tim Gilmour, president, Wilkes University

There is no one a university president talks to more regularly or depends on more consistently than his or her closest assistant. This book, drawing on the experiences and insights of people who have filled this role, demonstrates its complexity and its importance. An effective chief assistant to a president can anticipate, intercept, and solve problems before they reach a critical stage. He or she can help a president balance priorities and manage time, greatly increasing the likelihood of presidential success. Reading this book can help both presidents and their chief assistants define the terms of an effective relationship.

Robert Berdahl, president, Association of American Universities