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A Critical Discourse Analysis of Academic Presidential Transitions: Framing Images of Leadership

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2018, PHD, Kent State University, College of Education, Health and Human Services / School of Foundations, Leadership and Administration.
Informed by critical discourse analysis, this purpose of this study was to examine presidential transitions in the U.S. van Leeuwen's Social Actor Approach was used as the conceptual framework to understand how texts are used to recreate, shape and transform a social practice, such as college and university presidential leadership during times of transition. Data, covering presidential transitions in 2015 and 2016, were collected from The Chronicle of Higher Education. Data were analyzed using a three-phase analytic process that helped identify patterns and themes in the articles to uncover social actors (images) of college and university presidents in transition. The process also allowed for an analysis of the discursive structures at play, leading to findings of predominant discourses of professionalism, femininity, masculinity, and autonomy, giving rise to images of college and university presidents that remain traditional, masculine and at times heroic. Further, the intersection of discourses and images come together through our discussions to make visible discursive tensions between the president of yesteryear and the president of today/future. Implications and recommendations for practice are discussed.
Susan Iverson (Committee Co-Chair)
Mark Kretovics (Committee Co-Chair)
Alicia Crowe (Committee Member)
231 p.

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Ferrell, T. P. (2018). A Critical Discourse Analysis of Academic Presidential Transitions: Framing Images of Leadership [Doctoral dissertation, Kent State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=kent1542145474175605

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Ferrell, Tonia. A Critical Discourse Analysis of Academic Presidential Transitions: Framing Images of Leadership . 2018. Kent State University, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=kent1542145474175605.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Ferrell, Tonia. "A Critical Discourse Analysis of Academic Presidential Transitions: Framing Images of Leadership ." Doctoral dissertation, Kent State University, 2018. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=kent1542145474175605

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)