Transitions are a critical time for executives at all types of higher education institutions. Some vice presidents for student affairs sail through the transition period, while others stumble because they could not navigate the complexity of the new role. Vice presidents who appropriately match their leadership and management style to the new campus culture increase their likelihood of longevity in the position. This book examines the many rigors of the executive transition period and highlights what vice presidents can do to ensure a smooth transition. In this book, readers will find a diverse sampling of strategies and advice offered by vice presidents who have successfully made the transition and continue to effectively lead in their respective institutions. The contributing authors acknowledge that seamlessly transitioning into a vice presidency requires extensive preparation long before the interview and the first day on the job. Drawing from their own experiences, the authors offer insights on areas that are particularly challenging to vice presidents navigating the transition period. The book also features detailed case-study scenarios based on real dilemmas faced by vice presidents for student affairs in transition. Each case is accompanied by responses from active and retired vice presidents. In the transition period, new vice presidents lay the groundwork for future successes and set the stage for effective long-term leadership. Information presented in "Executive Transitions in Student Affairs" will help aspiring and new vice presidents get ready for the next step in their careers. After a foreword (Kevin Kruger), the book includes the following chapters: (1) The Case for Executive Transition Education in Student Affairs (Ainsley Carry and Kurt Keppler); (2) Onboard Yourself (Ainsley Carry); (3) Cultural Challenges: Keys to Thriving in the Transition (Brian Hemphill, Melanie Tucker, John Jones, and Susan Gardner); (4) Making the Internal Transition (Karen Warren Coleman); (5) Communication: The Most Overlooked Skill (Gage Paine); (6) Strategies for Success and Pitfalls to Avoid (John Laws); (7) Assessing the Campus and Divisional Cultures (W. Houston Dougharty and JoNes VanHecke); (8) Case Study: Bait and Switch (Ainsley Carry, Arthur Sandeen, and Brandi Hephner LeBanc); (9) Case Study: The Internal Candidate (Ainsley Carry, Arthur Sandeen, Mary Coburn, and Felicia Lee); (10) Case Study: A Bold New Vision But Declining Resources (Amy Hecht, Mary Coburn, Brandi Hephner LaBanc, and Arthur Sandeen); (11) Case Study: Crisis Response Protocol (Amy Hecht, Johnetta Cross Brazzell, Debbie Kushibab, Gail DiSabatino, and Theresa Powell); and (12) Case Study: Your Boss Is Your Predecessor (Tyjaun Lee, Valarie Evans, Daryl Minus, and Kenneth Ray, Jr.).