Radical Self-Care for CAOs
The foundational principle of self-care is that individuals must put themselves first before they can care for others. However, as chief academic officer (CAO), the role is rooted in caring for all others before caring for oneself. CAOs must be responsive to crises and are considered essential personnel. They must be present in times of crisis and expected to provide vision and leadership in navigating them. During the most stressful moments, they are on call at any time of the day or night. This sentiment was evident during COVID-19, in which CAOs led efforts, organized teams, and played an integral role in addressing community needs. CAOs face complex challenges within higher education environments and make collaborative decisions to manage them. CAOs are required to react to some of the most horrific situations. They must examine, experience, and address some issues that can cause vicarious trauma.
Nevertheless, the fast pace of the job, the expectations of stakeholders, and the need to foster a safe environment all come before self-care. Often, no time is available to reflect or address emotions. So when does self-care become apparent and needed? CAOs need to be more focused on self-care. After the world stabilized from the initial impact of COVID-19, the focus shifted to normalizing our environments rather than addressing the implications for human capital. The increasing instances of traumatizing events within higher education environments are having an impact on wellness. Nevertheless, we still need to focus on the effects of those on the front lines of addressing these issues.