"No man is an island" ... except for department chairs

In his 1624 poem “No Man Is an Island,” John Donne pontificates on the interconnectedness of humankind, calling for empathy and humanity: “No man is an island / entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent, / a part of the main.” The communities we build as postsecondary educators are powerful: We create support networks, inspire new ideas, and uncover synergies to achieve more than what we could as individuals. However, department chairs seem to be an exception. The nature of the role can create many forms of isolation, ultimately harming their health and wellness. Views from seventeen department chairs were collected as part of a research study in 2019 to learn about their leadership development experiences when first entering their roles. Although many spoke highly and positively of their journeys, the significant personal and professional costs of the position were resounding. In general, these academic leaders mentioned facing heavy workloads, high levels of responsibility, and demanding schedules, especially since most had multiple additional roles as practicing clinicians, researchers, and teachers. They noted working long hours and not having enough time for self-care. For many, resting on evenings and weekends was a luxury they could not often afford. As a result, these leaders reported feelings of isolation arising from their professional identity, their relationships, and themselves.