President Zimpher's New Book Calls for University Leadership in Urban School Renewal

Urban school renewal must be a leadership priority for presidents and chancellors of universities and colleges, says a new book edited by University of Cincinnati President Nancy L. Zimpher and Kenneth R. Howey, UC Research Professor in the College of Education, Criminal Justice, and Human Services. Zimpher and Howey issue a “call to community partnership” for university leaders to reform urban teacher education and create community partnerships in support of schools.

The book,

University Leadership in Urban School Renewal

, published by Greenwood Publishing Group, will be released formally on

Friday

,

May 21

, the same day as the inauguration of President Zimpher as UC's 25th president.  It will be featured at an inaugural Presidential Luncheon for invited guests at UC's Marriott Kingsgate Conference Hotel.

The book contains chapters written by 14 chancellors and presidents from urban universities across the United States, including chapters by Zimpher, UC's current president, and Joseph Steger, UC's president-emeritus.

Collectively, these contributing authors represent institutions that serve more than 340,000 students and prepare one-fifth of the nation’s teachers. The authors describe strategies they have used to make education reform a university priority -- from supporting new programs for teacher education to forming university-community partnerships. Their first-person accounts of both the challenges and rewards of educational renewal provides a valuable guide to the leadership practices of some of the nation’s most forward-thinking urban leaders.

“In countless communities around the country, leaders in higher education are becoming more involved in school renewal,” said Zimpher. “This book provides both a practical guide to leadership strategies and an inspirational look at the important difference effective university leadership can make for our nation’s schools and the children they serve.”

The book is part of the American Council on Education  and Praeger Series on Higher Education.  It can be ordered through Greenwood.