A Case Study in Presidential Leadership in Perilous Times: Rhetoric, Theater Training, and Life Experience

As a former college president, provost, and senior leader, Elaine Maimon brings a wealth of experience to multiple leadership roles. But she credits what she learned as an adjunct instructor and then assistant professor who built the nation’s first writing across the curriculum program for foundational skills. In this chapter, Maimon reflects on how she built on what she learned from collaborating with colleagues about rhetorical strategies, collaboration, and consensus to high-stakes interactions, like those with the Illinois State Legislature, as she developed into an exceptional leader.