When chaos strikes, how do leaders step up, steady the ship, and guide their organizations toward resilience and renewal? This is on the minds of leaders across higher ed and beyond. Dr. Ralph Gigliotti, whose work focuses on helping leaders transform moments of crisis into opportunities for growth and reinvention, shares his insights and recommendations for navigating challenging times.

Ralph Gigliotti

As Assistant Vice President for Organizational Leadership in University Academic Affairs at Rutgers University, Ralph directs the Office of Organizational Leadership and provides executive leadership for signature development programs, consultation services, and research initiatives. He serves as an advisor to senior leaders on change leadership, crisis management, and organizational strategy, facilitating the alignment of planning activities with university priorities. He oversees initiatives to strengthen organizational effectiveness and advances strategic academic transformation projects. Ralph holds faculty appointments in multiple schools and departments at Rutgers, is the author of 10 books and over 50 peer-reviewed publications focused on leadership and organizational dynamics, and serves on numerous university committees, including as co-chair of the Presidential Employee Excellence Committee.

Beyond Rutgers, Ralph is president of the Network for Change and Continuous Innovation (NCCI), a consortium of nearly 100 North American colleges and universities dedicated to advancing excellence in higher education. He serves as a member of the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award Board of Examiners, co-leads both the New Jersey Alliance for Clinical and Translational Science Team Science Core and the Distinction in Leadership in Academic Healthcare Program, and holds professional certifications as a Gallup Strengths Coach and Birkman Professional. A recipient of numerous teaching, research, and service awards, Ralph actively contributes to the International Leadership Association and National Communication Association.

Resources:

Leadership Generativity and the Social, Emotional, and Pragmatic Pivot from Crisis to Post-Crisis (2024) by Ralph Gigliotti

Guide for Leaders in Higher Education: Concepts, Competencies, and Tools (2021) by Brent D. Ruben, Richard De Lisi, Ralph Gigliott

Leadership in Academic Health Centers: Core Concepts and Critical Cases (2021) by C. Goldthwaite and Ralph Gigliotti

Crisis Leadership in Higher Education: Theory and Practice (2019) by Ralph Gigliotti