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Academic integrity and knowing what you stand for

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Reading the story of the UVa President Teresa Sullivan, I am filled with amazement at her integrity and character.

Professor Sullivan first and foremost is an A-grade academic, a solid researcher, a great teacher, and an engaged citizen. Of course above and beyond these top-notch credentials, she is a strong leader, one with vision and compassion for her faculty and students.

When I read more and more about her leadership style, I am reminded of something my father used to tell me when I was young "You need to have integrity to do anything well in life. You need to figure out where you stand and make sure to stand up for what you believe in, even when that is inconvenient."

Now, I don't think I have always been able to follow this dictum consistently, but it is a broad principle that guides me and the way in which I understand leadership.

Part of the story of Professor Sullivan's integrity is her excellence as an academic.

Academic excellence to me is deeply intertwined with leadership excellence, perhaps because it is when you stand on strong grounds academically that you also stand in a position of courage to stand up for what you believe in, voicing your opinions. When your grounds are weak or at best mediocre, you spend your time figuring out how to surive the race, how to make tenure with minimum publications or with a poor teaching record.

One has to be a great academic to be a great leader. Being a great academic, as demonstrated by Professor Sullivan gives you the legitimacy and the integrity to stand for specific ideals. These ideals at the end of the day make up the character of a great university leader. 

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