Dennis Morris is an outstanding thinker and coach practitioner. I have worked with him for 10 years now in a host of roles and across multiple institutions. He has an amazing ability to see through the noise of stories and complaint to identify paths for self-awareness and understanding. He has a great deal of experience and wisdom, but also a kind ear and patience—these are critical for establishing and sustaining coaching relationships.

Dennis is a consumer of knowledge, both practical and scholarly. He reads almost everything related to leadership change and management, but also books offering tools on self-empowerment and strengths. He doesn’t regurgitate the information though; rather he formulates applications in the context of his values and practice. Notably, he doesn’t stop there; he actually gets feedback from others on whether or not his thinking is clear. I can think of no better method of self-improvement for coaches than reading, comprehension, translation, application, and evaluation.

I’m extremely proud of my work with Dennis and am happy to offer more information if needed.

Dean and Professor

“I’m extremely proud of my work with Dennis and am happy to offer more information if needed.”

“fostered closeness amongst the group and provided a nurturing environment”

The Academic Leadership Program was a very positive experience. I came into the position of a new Chair thinking, ‘I am alone. I’m not sure how to do this. I’m not supposed to do all the work myself. I don’t have all the answers. How do I get people to look at these issues and collaborate toward a resolution?’ After participating in this program I gained the confidence that I needed and it helped me to know that the other Chairs were undergoing what I was going through. The time commitment was significant and in the end I felt like this program saved me and others lots of time. 

In our group session Dennis fostered closeness amongst the group and provided a nurturing environment where I was able to share. The totality of the program was effective. I am better able to be positive, appreciative and I have a robust understanding of where my colleagues, staff and students are coming from. I can recognize that so much better now. 

Professor and Department Chair of Computer and Information Sciences 

Prior to working with Dennis, I had not worked with or engaged an executive coach. I made myself a candidate for a dean position and found the sessions with Dennis of high value immediately. What I noticed as we worked together was the value of Dennis’s experience with higher education. He recognizes context of a university committed to “shared governance” requires different leadership approaches compared to what makes sense in a for-profit business. Dennis knows that higher education leaders need to inspire and persuaded colleagues to pursue goals and a vision. Importantly, “the vision” in a university or college should be a ‘collective’ one that was developed collaboratively.

Becoming a candidate for dean’s position and progressing through a search made the guidance from Dennis immediately relevant. The guidance and coaching I received from Dennis enabled me to balance the need to present myself as someone who listens and involves others but will act, make decisions and commitments, and build new relationships and programs for the institution.

I regularly took notes during our meeting and would go through them later with a highlighter. This comment from a discussion with Dennis was a terrific thought that I continue to share when discussing the purpose of our work in higher education: “While the things we learn in university may become obsolete, there are other things we learn about ourselves that will last forever.” My bullet points that followed are: our principles, integrity, trust, who we are as a person, the human condition, and the means to building prosperous communities and the use of critical thinking. Talking through my background and the approaches I have used as a leader with Dennis made me a stronger candidate. Ultimately I was offered a terrific position to lead a large business school.

Dennis also provided valuable coach around my individual 1-to-1 relationships with other members of the College’s leadership team such as department chairs and associate deans. His guidance enabled me to temper my harmony-seeking personality and be more patient working through issues with others. In particular, I use his guidance to ask better questions: “What’s it like to be waiting?” or “Here’s what I hear that you’re concerned about. Have I got it right?” With Dennis’s coaching I have learned to hear out the angst of others and not rush to judge (‘that’s not a big deal-don’t worry’) or resolve the problem for them (‘I’ll talk to them about this and get back to you’). In other words, I learned to ‘stay in the tension’ of discussions of difficult issues. 

An additional recognition Dennis led me to show people in my teams that they are valued and appreciated. For people to contribute and bring their best efforts requires trust and feeling supporting. Although I can overlook opportunities to compliment others I do it more now.

Dennis exhibits strong professional competence and is unwaveringly principled and ethical. He cares about his clients and their success, and I am a beneficiary of his skills and experience.

Dean and Professor

“My bullet points that followed are: our principles, integrity, trust, who we are as a person, the human condition, and the means to building prosperous communities and the use of critical thinking.”

“I am a huge fan of the Academic Leadership Program!”

I am a huge fan of the Academic Leadership Program! This program helped me on a variety of levels as a leader. From a leadership standpoint the program’s specific techniques helped me to better deal with crisis situations as they emerge. As professors, we are focused on teaching and research and aren’t trained in interpersonal relations and this program expanded my vision of decision making where people are part of the process and this made it more enjoyable and it has given me a sense of accomplishment to impart long term change. Dennis does not just impart information; this is a collaborative and interactive leadership development program. 

Professor and Interim Chair of Women and Gender Studies 

I have had no management training at all and when I was asked to lead a faculty of sixty that had its own brand of leadership prior to my arrival with over 28 years of what was a series of pronouncements. I knew it was a culture that was neither sustainable nor desirable. The department holds many strong personalities and many would refuse change or be frightened by it. The time commitment of the Academic Leadership Program was significant and I went into it knowing that I would give it my all.

The program carved a road to building trust and establishing relationships with other new Chairs as we shared many intimate things. I found the Difficult Conversation aspect of the program particularly helpful as I had no understanding or expectations of others because everyone has their own reasons or they simply aren’t on your radar. I learned specific skills in the communication and trust sessions as well as the mock problem scenarios while enhancing my interpersonal skills, confidence and the real value of respect. 

Professor and Chair of Department of Languages, Literatures and Culture

“building trust and establishing relationships with other new Chairs”

“one-on-one work with me this year in the context of some very “challenging” circumstances for the college and for me”

I have known Dennis for more than ten years, first through his work with cohorts of department chairs and program directors and more recently through his work in three different capacities: 1) working one-on-one with several faculty in my college2)working with four small groups (4-6) of department chairs and interdisciplinary program directors in a 7-week academic leadership program that provided participants with weekly 1:1 coaching sessions as well as a weekly four-hour session as a cohort; 3) one-on-one coaching for me personally. 

The academic leadership cohort program that Dennis developed for my colleagues has been high-value for all of its participants, who have unanimously recommended it to subsequent cohorts of both experienced and novice department chairs and program directors. Our university has not invested to date in leadership development targeted specifically for faculty serving in these critical unit-level leadership roles, and Dennis’ 

work with my colleagues to enhance their self-awareness and intentionality as leaders has been both highly effective and deeply appreciated. 

I am equally appreciative of his one-on-one work with me this year in the context of some very “challenging” circumstances for the college and for me as a dean related to how university-level leadership is responding to pressures, managing system-level change management projects, and assessing the contributions of my college to the university’s mission and strategic direction. I am grateful for the opportunity I’ve had to work with him on recognizing and articulating the values that drive me as an academic leader, and the imposter syndrome insecurities that can derail me.

Dean and Professor