Trust, Remove Friction, and Know Your Lane: Effective Crisis Leadership in the Princeton Meningitis B Outbreak

View Sample PDF

Author(s): Judy F. Jarvis (Princeton University, USA)
Copyright: 2026
Pages: 28
Source title: Narratives of Upheaval in Higher Education
Source Author(s)/Editor(s): Denise Simard (The State University of New York at Plattsburgh, USA)and Janet Acker (The State University of New York at Plattsburgh, USA)
DOI: 10.4018/979-8-3373-2063-2.ch010

Keywords: Educational Leadership & Administration / Higher Education / Information Science Reference / Knowledge Management and Library Science

Purchase

View Trust, Remove Friction, and Know Your Lane: Effective Crisis Leadership in the Princeton Meningitis B Outbreak on the publisher's website for pricing and purchasing information.

Abstract

The meningitis B campus outbreak crisis at Princeton University from 2013 to 2015 was not only life-threatening to students, it also required an intense and unrelenting response from many campus leaders and practitioners. This included managing national media attention, collaborating with local, regional, and national health officials, pursuing emergency vaccine approval, and deploying significant people hours and funds, among many other crisis-related actions. Given the high stakes, intensity, and length of this campus upheaval, a case study drawing from interviews with leaders and practitioners directly involved in the crisis is instructive to learn from. This chapter's findings indicate successful crisis response leadership in three key areas that combined to be greater than the sum of their parts: strong pre-existing crisis management structures, nimbleness and the ability to flex as needed, and senior-level buy-in and trust of operational professionals.

The IRMA Community

Research IRM

Trust, Remove Friction, and Know Your Lane: Effective Crisis Leadership in the Princeton Meningitis B Outbreak

Purchase

Abstract

Related Content

IRMA Sponsors