A largely unseen phenomenon is shaping the direction of higher education today: the growth of leadership programs. These programs are hidden ladders that help the talented move up toward university presidencies. Their number and importance are rapidly increasing, and they will more and more determine who makes decisions in higher education. We need to know more about them.

Lessons in Leadership is the first book to address them directly, highlighting their histories and achievements. In it, the directors of most major programs in the country describe...