FIR on Higher Education #49: UNC Provost Jim Dean on How Senior Leaders Can Leverage Social Media

Many studies highlight how top leadership in companies can reap positive benefits by using social media (see Weber Shandwick study for example).

While certainly not the majority, there are some university presidents, provosts and schools deans who are also using social media in a strategic way. Case in point is University of North Carolina Provost Jim Dean (@TarHeelProvost on Twitter).

On episode 49 of FIR on Higher Education, Dean tells the story of his social media journey and shares advice for other senior university leaders. Among the topics discussed are:

* how to connect individual social media activity to big picture university goals.

* how university communicators can support top leadership in their personal social media activity.

* how a senior leader can use social media during a time of crisis at the school.

* how busy senior leaders can incorporate social media into their everyday activities.

In our reports section, I highlight the 2016 institutional social media goals from Cara Rousseau, Manager of Social and Digital Media Strategy at Duke University, and Kristofer Karol, Director of Social Media Strategy at Indiana University.

About Jim Dean

James W. Dean Jr. is the Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and the former dean at UNC’s Kenan-Flagler Business School, where he is a professor of organizational behavior. Leadership, organizational change, strategic decision making, international management, and organizational performance improvement are the focus of his research, teaching and consulting. Dr. Dean served as Dean of the Kenan-Flagler Business School from 2008-2013; Senior Associate Dean from 2007-2008; Associate Dean of Executive Development from 2002-2007; and Associate Dean of the MBA Program from 1998-2002.