This is a study of the role of presidential leadership in market adaptation and evolution of mission at one higher education institution Philadelphia University. The time frame studied is 1984 to 2006. This institution was selected for study because of the dramatic change and institutional turnaround that has occurred there over the past 22 years. The focus of this study is the impact of the university''s leadership, specifically the president, on this transformation process. The central questions addressed are: what was the role of the president in the change process and how did the president influence strategic planning and change; what key market forces have impacted the institution since 1984; how did mission evolve over this time period; and what were the sources of resistance to institutional mission transformation and how were they mediated?

Dr. Garvey has served as Vice President for Strategic Priorities at New England College, as VP at Phila. Univ., as Associate Dean at the U. of Penn., and Dir. of Development at the W. Penn Charter School in Philadelphia. Dr. Garvey received an Ed.D. from the Univ. of Penn, an MBA from Temple Univ., and a B.A. from Connecticut College.