What role does the position of department chair occupy in higher education today? Once characterized as largely a management function, the 21st-century department chair is now facing a host of emerging challenges that require additional skills and fresh approaches to fulfilling the role.In Chairing Academic Departments, the author offers experience-based suggestions for new, existing, and potential chairs as they face a higher education enterprise that is undergoing significant change. While acknowledging that many traditional responsibilities and expectations will remain unaltered, the author also identifies several dynamic functions—from entrepreneurial work and fundraising, faculty evaluation and motivation, student recruitment and retention, problem solving, and interpersonal interactions such as advising, meditating, and mentoring.The author navigates the changes arising in the role of department chair by offering valuable insight in the following areas:Characteristics of effective department chairsHow to work with, and advocate for, internal constituentsManaging and disseminating informationRecruiting, retaining, and evaluating facultyFiscal responsibility and strategic planningBenefits of serving as department chairPlanning to exit the chair positionWhile the position of department chair will continue to evolve, Chairing Academic Departments equips readers with the situational understanding and practical advice they need to meet the demands of tomorrow.