Written to enhance the understanding of administrators, faculty members, and board members regarding the position of community college dean of instruction, this book reports and analyzes study findings on the background, preparation, and roles of people in this position. The book draws from a national survey of the careers and lifestyles of current deans; separate surveys of female, Black, and Hispanic deans; and interviews with 15 deans of instruction from 13 different states. The nine chapters of the book focus on the following: (1) the dean of instruction's role as the institution's chief academic officer; (2) profiles of current deans of instruction, including both family and educational background; (3) the career pathway to the position of dean of instruction; (4) frustrations and satisfactions experienced by female deans of instruction; (5) experiences of Black deans; (6) experiences of Hispanic deans; (7) deans' views on leadership as compared to the views of community college presidents; (8) advice for those aspiring to the dean of instruction position, and for those deans aspiring to the community college presidency; and (9) conclusions and recommendations, including suggested ways of improving the relationship between the dean of instruction and college president. The questionnaires used in the study are appended. (WJT)