The Department Chair's role is continuously evolving and changing. Many of the chairs' roles are new or have received increased emphasis in recent years. They include being a team builder; technology and distance education guru; financial wizard; conflict mediator; faculty developer; legal expert; entrepreneur; fund raiser; curricular visionary; student, faculty, and program advocate; personnel and program evaluator; and interdepartmental collaborator to name a few.

The nineteenth annual Academic Chairpersons Conference will provide a forum to share experiences and research on how chairs prioritize and successfully assume the roles most important to their department's success.