So you want to be a dean? The anticipatory stage.

Wanting to be a dean and actually securing a deanship take a great deal of planning and forethought. The first step in the process is deciding on why you want to be a dean, where you would like to fulfill that desire and what are the processes to make the aspiration a reality. Corcoran and Clarks (1984) framework on career socialization, particularly stage one, anticipatory socialization, was used as the guiding model for this article. The literature is not awash with articles on the actual steps to take in securing a deanship. This article explicates from personal experience how to successfully navigate the road to becoming a dean.