Mark P. Curchack is the associate vice president for planning and assessment, executive director of the president's office, and secretary of the board for Arcadia University. He first served in the role from 1987-2001. After a seven-year stint as graduate dean, he returned in 2008 to his current position under a new president. An anthropologist and former professor, he holds degrees from Yale University and the University of California, Berkeley.

• Chapter 1 ForewordChapter 2 From Whence They Came: Career Paths to the Presidential Assistant PositionChapter 3 The Role of Gender in the Profession of Presidential AssistantChapter 4 Qualities of a Presidential AssistantChapter 5 Managing the President's OfficeChapter 6 Managing the Life of the PresidentChapter 7 Presidential Assistants and Institutional AdvancementChapter 8 Executive Speechwriting and Other CommunicationsChapter 9 Once Upon a Motion: A Board Secretary's TaleChapter 10 The Nasty Stuff in a PAs Life: Handling ComplaintsChapter 11 Presidential Assistants as Senior AdministratorsChapter 12 A Career as a Presidential AssistantChapter 13 What Do Presidential Assistants Do Next?Chapter 14 Juggling Jell-o: Other Duties as AssignedChapter 15 Conclusion and Afterword

This collection of observations on presidential assistants in higher education is long overdue. It will serve as an excellent orientation for those who are new to the role and as an affirmation of the valuable contribution of seasoned professionals.

Mark P. Curchack is the associate vice president for planning and assessment, executive director of the president's office, and secretary of the board for Arcadia University. He first served in the role from 1987-2001. After a seven-year stint as graduate dean, he returned in 2008 to his current position under a new president. An anthropologist and former professor, he holds degrees from Yale University and the University of California, Berkeley.

• Chapter 1 ForewordChapter 2 From Whence They Came: Career Paths to the Presidential Assistant PositionChapter 3 The Role of Gender in the Profession of Presidential AssistantChapter 4 Qualities of a Presidential AssistantChapter 5 Managing the President's OfficeChapter 6 Managing the Life of the PresidentChapter 7 Presidential Assistants and Institutional AdvancementChapter 8 Executive Speechwriting and Other CommunicationsChapter 9 Once Upon a Motion: A Board Secretary's TaleChapter 10 The Nasty Stuff in a PAs Life: Handling ComplaintsChapter 11 Presidential Assistants as Senior AdministratorsChapter 12 A Career as a Presidential AssistantChapter 13 What Do Presidential Assistants Do Next?Chapter 14 Juggling Jell-o: Other Duties as AssignedChapter 15 Conclusion and Afterword

This collection of observations on presidential assistants in higher education is long overdue. It will serve as an excellent orientation for those who are new to the role and as an affirmation of the valuable contribution of seasoned professionals.

Mark P. Curchack is the associate vice president for planning and assessment, executive director of the president's office, and secretary of the board for Arcadia University. He first served in the role from 1987-2001. After a seven-year stint as graduate dean, he returned in 2008 to his current position under a new president. An anthropologist and former professor, he holds degrees from Yale University and the University of California, Berkeley.

• Chapter 1 ForewordChapter 2 From Whence They Came: Career Paths to the Presidential Assistant PositionChapter 3 The Role of Gender in the Profession of Presidential AssistantChapter 4 Qualities of a Presidential AssistantChapter 5 Managing the President's OfficeChapter 6 Managing the Life of the PresidentChapter 7 Presidential Assistants and Institutional AdvancementChapter 8 Executive Speechwriting and Other CommunicationsChapter 9 Once Upon a Motion: A Board Secretary's TaleChapter 10 The Nasty Stuff in a PAs Life: Handling ComplaintsChapter 11 Presidential Assistants as Senior AdministratorsChapter 12 A Career as a Presidential AssistantChapter 13 What Do Presidential Assistants Do Next?Chapter 14 Juggling Jell-o: Other Duties as AssignedChapter 15 Conclusion and Afterword

This collection of observations on presidential assistants in higher education is long overdue. It will serve as an excellent orientation for those who are new to the role and as an affirmation of the valuable contribution of seasoned professionals.