Tiffin University President Dr. Lillian Schumacher was recently published in University Business with a new article examining leadership, institutional adaptation, and the risks organizations face when survival becomes the primary strategy during periods of disruption.
In the piece, “Why Leaders Accelerate Decline When They Focus on Survival,” Dr. Schumacher explores how higher education leaders are navigating mounting pressures tied to demographic change, workforce expectations, financial sustainability, and accelerating technological advancement. The article argues that institutions rarely lose momentum because challenges emerge. More often, they lose momentum when leadership becomes consumed with preserving existing models instead of defining what comes next.
“Institutions rarely lose momentum because challenges appear unexpectedly,” Dr. Schumacher writes. “More often, they lose momentum when leadership becomes consumed with protecting existing models instead of defining what comes next.”
The article also reflects on the importance of differentiation, workforce relevance, operational agility, and leadership clarity as colleges and universities adapt to a rapidly changing environment.