Great Bosses Intro

Timothy Chester

I’ve always tried to lead by investing deeply in people—especially those who might not stand out on paper. I take chances when hiring, build deliberate career paths, and believe the work itself is the best training ground. I stay close to my team, sweat the details with them every week, and work hard to stay aligned with academic leadership. That’s the kind of leadership I work to bring to higher education. But I didn’t invent this approach—I learned it by watching others.

Timothy Chester

In today’s Dispatch, we reflect on what real mentorship looks like in practice: not formal programs, but the everyday influence of great bosses who lead by example.