Why your campus needs to fill this new post
Preview:
Regional universities can no longer rely on incremental stewardship as a survival strategy, and Central Michigan University is among a small group of institutions responding by creating a University Transformation Office led by a chief transformation officer with private-sector experience. Unlike a traditional project management office, the transformation office operates at the senior leadership level, aligning institutional priorities and translating strategy into action across siloed divisions. The model requires careful navigation of shared governance, but proponents argue that professional change management and faculty buy-in are complementary rather than competing forces.
Originally published: April 13, 2026
Author: Neil MacKinnon
Position: President
Institution: Central Michigan University
Published by: University Business