Chief Student Affairs Officers (CSAO) are not being selected to become college presidents as often as their executive counterparts in higher education. This study used qualitative and quantitative data to provide a composite sketch of the path to the presidency for CSAOs from three different perspectives. First, the American College President's Survey was used to create a demographic profile of CSAOs who now serve as college presidents. Next, ten former CSAOs who are now college presidents were interviewed to gain their perspectives on their preparation, search, and acceptance experiences. Finally, seven search firm representatives were interviewed to understand their perceptions and attitudes toward potential candidates from student affairs.

The results of this study were multi-faceted. First, the contingent of college presidents with CSAO experience at four-year institutions has grown incrementally. However, the results also showed that there is a large population of former CSAOs who are now presidents at two-year institutions. This increase in numbers requires more study. Next, the interviews with the college presidents exposed a career duality for the former CSAOs. Essentially, as they excelled as competent administrators the results showed they were equally as active in the scholarly community. This result seems to have positively affected their matriculation to the CEO position. The results also showed the disparate opinions, perspectives, and attitudes of search firm committee members in terms of their understanding of CSAO responsibilities and abilities. Finally, it was concluded that CSAOs who endeavor to become college presidents should look to two-year institutions as a possible career destination. Also, search firm representatives should re-evaluate their reasons for not considering CSAOs. Moreover, firms should encourage committees to look internally, as many CSAOs were found to have moved from the CSAO post to president at their own institutions.