Onboarding Strategy & Confidential Guidance

The Presidential Transition Partner: A New Ally

An innovative, external addition to a university president’s onboarding journey, merging institutional familiarity with peer wisdom.

The Cartographer and Sherpa

The Presidential Transition Partner (PTP) serves as both cartographer—helping chart the institutional landscape—and sherpa—setting a sustainable pace and identifying pivotal markers along the way for the incoming leader.

The PTP is a recently retired university president, collaborating closely for three months before and three months after the official start date.

Reference: Varlotta, L. E. (2025). The Presidential Transition Partner: A New Member of a University President’s Onboarding Team.

A Distinct Role: Practitioner, Not Strategist Alone

PTP: The Hands-on Practitioner

A seasoned peer and "doer" who understands the landscape from lived presidential experience. Can immediately tackle essential, time-consuming preparation tasks.

Executive Advisor

Typically focuses on high-level strategy and organizational dynamics. Offers guidance but generally does not execute tactical onboarding tasks.

Executive Coach

Focuses on leadership style, personal development, and communication skills. Less involved in the specific review of institutional documents.

The PTP Value Proposition

Deep Data Synthesis

The PTP curates, contextualizes, and synthesizes critical institutional information (websites, policies, accreditation reports, public datasets).

  • Annotate budget documents, clarifying fiscal realities.
  • Summarize essential governance documents (bylaws, CBAs).

Protective Neutrality

Operating externally ensures objectivity, independence, and confidentiality. Free from internal politics, the PTP provides unfiltered feedback and acts as a safe avenue for delicate matters.

  • Asks difficult, candid questions internal staff may avoid.
  • Gives the new president a neutral sounding board post-stakeholder meetings.

Accelerated Strategy

The PTP helps the president evaluate strategic plans (advance, revise, or sunset), design cabinet retreats, and align the early agenda with gathered insights.

  • Briefs the president-elect on high-level themes, opportunities, and concerns.
  • Effectively accelerates the new president’s learning curve and decision-making.

Building Confidence

Having a seasoned leader integrated into the transition reassures trustees and stakeholders that the presidency is beginning on a well-informed and deliberate foundation.

  • Model is scalable for provosts, CFOs, or other senior executives.
  • Selection is driven by the president-elect (often with board consent).

What the PTP Is NOT

NOT an Administrator

They hold no line authority, operational power, or budget control. They are a collaborator.

NOT a Crisis Manager

They are focused on foundational onboarding, not day-to-day interim administration or crisis response.

NOT an Executive Coach

While they offer perspective, their primary function is analytical and tactical, not behavioral coaching.

Merging institutional familiarity with external expertise for informed decision-making.

Reference: Varlotta, L. E. (2025). The Presidential Transition Partner: A New Member of a University President’s Onboarding Team.