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The Glass Cliff
One Transman's Leadership Odyssey
Mel Rutherford (Author)
9781394368679, Wiley
Paperback / softback, published 12 May 2026
192 pages
22.6 x 15.2 x 1.8 cm, 0.295 kg
Redefining Leadership—From the Inside Out Leadership in higher education is rarely simple—but for those leading from the margins, it can be uniquely complex. The Glass Cliff explores what it means to lead with integrity in institutions built on tradition, hierarchy, and too often, exclusion. Drawing from his lived experience as an openly transgender department chair and his expertise as an experimental psychologist, Professor Mel Rutherford offers a compelling roadmap for building trust, community, and resilience amid crisis and systemic bias. Through a rare combination of research, reflection, and real-world leadership practice, Rutherford weaves together values-based governance, shared leadership, and compassionate accountability into a model of inclusive transformation. His story illuminates the intersection of personal calling and professional responsibility—offering both guidance and solidarity for those working to reshape organizational culture by including: Ideal for graduate and professional courses in Leadership, Gender Studies, Psychology, and Organizational Behavior, The Glass Cliff: One Transman’s Leadership Odyssey supports both emerging and experienced leaders in higher education, business, and nonprofit sectors. It is an essential resource for DEI practitioners, faculty developers, HR professionals, and anyone seeking to foster inclusive and values-driven leadership.
Preface ix Author’s Notex 1 The Crisis and the Calling 1 Department Interrupted 2 A Dangerous Promotion 5 Could We Be Looking for Me? 7 Bringing My Values to Work 8 Answering the Call 12 A Perilous Path 15 References 16 2 Transitions: Oregon Farm Kid to Activist and Academic 17 Being Benched and Being Seen 19 Propriety and Performance 21 Getting Closer 22 Namewrecked 24 Love and Marriage 25 Fatherhood in Two Countries 26 Taking My Shot 27 Transitioning to Leadership 30 References 31 3 Communication and Chaos in the Information Desert 32 Information Desert 35 Deep Listening 37 The Inquiry and Remedy Committee 40 From Crisis to Clarity 41 When Leading Is Advocacy 44 The Flaherty Report 46 Back to Work 48 References 49 4 Values- Based Governance 50 Naming My Personal Values 50 Values Delayed 52 Identifying Our Core Values 54 Values in Action 56 Formal Consensus Decision-Making 59 The Original Blueprint 61 Consensus in Action 63 Building Culture with Values 64 References 65 5 The Glass Cliff 66 Clarity Was My Responsibility 67 Denunciation 71 Am I the Problem? 73 In the Halls of Power 74 Unanimous Support 78 Trans Tropes 80 References 82 6 A Workplace Investigation and a Secret Report 83 Scrutiny 85 A Workplace Investigation 86 A Secret Report 87 Remote and Recorded 90 Reprisal 93 Was This All About Transphobia? 95 The Impact of Being a Glass Cliff Leader 97 References 99 7 Shared Leadership: Just the Support I Needed 100 Why Shared Leadership? 101 The Wisdom of Previous Leaders 102 Built in Succession Planning 104 Creating Shared Information 105 Shared Leadership Leaves You Nimble 106 Strategic Planning 107 Name It Leadership 109 Developing Leaders at All Levels 111 Developing Leaders with an Eye to Inclusivity 112 Academia Is an Ideal Workplace for Shared Leadership 113 Moving Forward 114 References 114 8 Refusing Shame: How We Made Our Good Work Visible 115 Reclaiming Our Name 116 Listening Up: Leadership in the Hierarchy 117 Managing Up: Rebuilding Relationship Through Institutional Engagement 119 Strategic Presence: Cultivating Influence Through Shared Governance 120 Celebrating Our Excellence: Visibility, Identity, and Renewal 124 Building Trust by Being There 125 Awards and Celebrations 126 The Quiet Work of Showing Up 128 References 129 9 Please Don’t Destroy: Compassion in Accountability 130 Building a Culture of Calling In 131 Calling Out Hurts 133 Calling In: Small and Large 134 Listen Before Picking Sides 135 How to Call Someone In 136 Explicit Goals Constrain Biases 138 Performative Advocacy 140 The Ripple Effect of Trust and Curiosity 141 When Calling In Is Not the Right Tool 142 References 144 10 Lessons Learned: The Exit Interview I Gave Myself 145 Values Are Your Compass 145 Have a Development Mindset 146 Protect Glass Cliff Leaders 147 Protect Your People 148 Policy and Poise: Tools for Surviving Institutional Bias 149 Keep Showing Up 150 Create Relationships and Strategic Networks 151 Apologize Like a Boss 152 Be Approachable 153 Step Up, Step Back 154 Find What Sustains You 155 Return on Investment: The Value of Transgender Leadership 155 Respond Compassionately to Misgendering 157 Calibrate Your Vulnerability 158 The Fragility of Good Faith 159 Growing Edges 160 References 160 11 How I Survived the Glass Cliff 161 Family 162 My Unitarian Universalist Community 164 My Colleagues 165 Transgender Allies 167 Leaders in Inclusion 167 Counseling 169 My Own Resilience 170 Détente 171 References 173 Acknowledgments 174 Index 175
Subject Areas: Psychology [JM]
