Leading for Inclusive Academic Excellence in Polarized Times: A Rural College Case Study on What Works

This qualitative case study examines how a rural community college advances Inclusive Academic Excellence (IAE) within a polarized social and political environment. Focusing on the perceptions of institutional leadership, faculty, and staff, the study explores how the college president’s leadership contributes to advancing inclusive academic excellence and how faculty and staff perceive the effectiveness of strategies used to implement this work. Grounded in transformational leadership, the study draws on 35 interviews with faculty and staff. Preliminary findings highlight transparency, collaboration, social awareness, open communication, responsiveness to feedback, and cross-departmental collaboration as important leadership practices for building trust and advancing IAE amid polarization and stakeholder resistance