Your bed is warm and cozy, your parents are cooking your dinner and classes seem like a distant memory. It feels like Christmas break is back already—minus the large family gatherings and the fully stocked fridge. In reality, it’s more like you’re back in high school again and you have to do homework...

When I began my role at the university a dozen years ago, I received a letter from a college president who gave me some advice. “Start your job by running as fast as you can. Then gradually pick up the speed.” Although I’m inherently ambitious, I soon realized that if I ran full bore from the time...