In the Chronicle of Higher Eds Ask the Chair series, Kevin Dettmar (Pomona College) answers a question about how to support a department after the death of a faculty member. Dettmar underlines that leading through loss requires being sensitive to needs of staff and students before stepping up to meet them. While there is no one-size-fits-all approach to mourning, the author highlights some approaches that may be useful for departmental chairs moving forward, including asking studentsonce theyve had the chance to absorb the newswhat sort of tribute that they would find meaningful to honour their mentor; maintaining open lines of communication with family members who want to be involved in memorial activities; and creating opportunities for alumni to share tributes.
