When It Comes Time Not to “Jump the Shark”: Stepping Down as Director

Authors

Nick Flynn, Angelo State UniversityFollow

Date of this Version

2010

Document Type

Article

Comments

Published in Honors in Practice, Volume 6. Copyright 2010 National Collegiate Honors Council

Abstract

I was the founding director of the honors program at Angelo State University. Our program started off in a small room in our library back in 2001 with seventeen students. Since then, the program has grown to approximately 150 students with a 2,000-square-foot lounge. Additionally, we received a $250,000 donation for programming and scholarships. After seven years as Director, in 2007 I began to contemplate the possibility of stepping down, and at the start of the fall 2008 semester I made the difficult decision so that I could devote more time to my scholarly endeavors. In retrospect, I wish that I had had some of the insight I am providing in this essay, and I hope that I can help others who are contemplating a move, permanent or temporary, out of honors.