Date
12-4-2025
Department
School of Education
Degree
Doctor of Philosophy in Education (PhD)
Chair
Breck L. Perry
Keywords
executive leadership team, higher education, succession planning
Disciplines
Education | Educational Leadership
Recommended Citation
Barber, Alexander William II, "Preparing Educational Leaders: A Qualitative Phenomenological Study" (2025). Doctoral Dissertations and Projects. 7747.
https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/doctoral/7747
Abstract
The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenological study was to understand the business training conducted in succession planning for executive leaders at community colleges. The central research question for this study is: What are the experiences of executive leaders at community colleges in business training conducted in succession planning? I conducted a hermeneutic phenomenological study at a nationally recognized community college that is implementing new higher education programs. The theoretical framework guiding this study was Smith’s institutional theory. Purposeful sampling was used to interview personnel working at the executive level in positions of vice presidents and presidents on-site. Individual interviews and focus group interviews were conducted to gain an understanding of how personnel are selected for succession plan training. A review of the succession plan training document, developed by members of the community college, was conducted as part of this study. I analyzed the data and developed a detailed description of the school’s succession plan training program. The primary themes identified through the analysis are the development of the executive mindset, the conduct of succession plan training, the selection of candidates, and executive training. The results of this study show that those seeking executive leadership roles need to think strategically, must plan for results that are directed with the best interest of the community in mind, and take responsibility for their executive thinking. The findings will contribute to the body of research on succession planning, higher educational executive leadership training, and fill a gap in the literature for the need to conduct business training for executive leaders at higher learning institutions and colleges.
