"Denise and I met at our new faculty orientation, which seems like a lifetime ago, and grew up together as academics. She chose administration early on, and I taught for decades before giving up faculty status to become a full-time fellowship director. As she advanced from dean to provost to president, my role as the administrative "trailing" spouse altered in both subtle and overt ways at each new institution, but the core was always rooted in our dedication to the universities we served and to each other."
"We were fortunate to always be employed at the same university and offered ourselves to search committees as a package deal. Many of my peers gave up careers to serve as dedicated presidential spouses and partners or have positions in business or with outside organizations. For some, their ties to the institution come down to an occasional student play or alumni meet-and-greet, a few calendar events to plan and dress for."
Denise A. Battles stepped down after more than ten years as president of SUNY Geneseo to take a system-level position, ending the presidential spouse role. The spouse spent a decade attending campus events, altering his role as the partner advanced from dean to provost to president. Responsibilities ranged from occasional appearances to daily campus presence, with some spouses abandoning careers to serve. The role is ambiguous and varied across institutions, involving public engagement, personal sacrifice, institutional loyalty, planning events, and navigating isolation and scrutiny.
Read at Inside Higher Ed | Higher Education News, Events and Jobs
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