The role of nine academic vice presidents in managing Christian, liberal arts colleges was assessed, as part of research conducted at Christian or church-related liberal arts colleges that were identified as being well managed by one or more persons. Data collected on the academic vice presidents provided the following profile: the average age was 45.1 years; they had been in their present position an average of 4.9 years; and all were white males. The following management dimensions were common to most of the nine people studied: (1) the academic vice presidents emphasized building relationships with both the president and the faculty; (2) the academic vice presidents saw collegial governance as descriptive of their institutions; (3) academic leadership rested with the academic vice president in a majority of the colleges; (4) the academic vice president's primary management thrust was for improvement of academic quality; and (5) academic vice presidents emphasized some elements of good management including process, leadership, informal organization, communication, and debate of issues. Characteristics of the environment of the nine officials were also considered, including their relationship with the college president and whether faith was affirmed at the college. (SW)