Prepare to Chair: Leading the Dissertation and Thesis Process

Leading the thesis or dissertation process can be a challenging and rewarding experience. However, serving as a doctoral dissertation or master’s thesis Chair is often a role assumed with very little faculty development and a lot of guesswork. Many new (and yes, even experienced) Chairs rely on the secondhand advice of seasoned faculty or on their own lived experiences as graduate students (both good and bad). This can lead to confusion, frustration, and contentious relationships. Without a chairperson who is invested and who has a clear set of best practices, both the Chair and the student are left guessing as to the best course to proceed This book provides a clear set of best practices for the dissertation or thesis chairperson by providing hands-on tools, real-life illustrations, and practical advice for any faculty member guiding and coaching the student through the thesis or dissertation process.

Gretchen Oltman has spent the past decade building and leading new academic programs. She is a tenured associate professor and program director of a graduate program at Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska. A lifelong educator, she also holds a Ph.D. in educational studies, a law degree, and a master’s degree in teaching.