Shirley Ann Jackson has what RPI was looking for in a president. She has a talent for raising capital, a well-defined vision for the future of the Institute, a plan to achieve that vision, and no fear of shaking things up.
Unfortunately, her leadership style leaves something to be desired in some aspects. Perhaps because she has such a definite view of the future, the president has a tendency to micromanage. This has the effect of both annoying the people she micromanages and distracting her from higher level decisions. It may also add to the bureaucracy of the proceedings of the Institute. If Jackson wants to stay informed, she may need to put more red tape in place so that she or someone close to her is kept in the loop on decisions that traditionally haven’t concerned the office of the president.
Some sources say that Jackson is starting to "loosen the reins" a bit; if so, this is definitely the way to go.
Another problem we have observed is that the president seems to ignore any input that does not fit in her view and any concerns she does not share in. For example, whenever the issue of gay/lesbian/bisexual rights comes up at town meetings, Jackson seems to sidestep the question without giving a straight answer. Recently, the president announced that the Dean of Students Office would move to Academy Hall. In response to student complaints, she delayed the move for a semester. However, she did not cancel it outright or even delay the move until the building is brought up to code in terms of disabled access or until the rest of the so-called student services corridor is completed.
Though Jackson seems to have rescued this institution from the threat of a downward spiral, there is some room for improvement; a decrease in micromanagement and an increase in attention given to the community’s input and concerns would definitely be a step in the right direction.
