With the average tenure of a university president in the United States hovering at just 5.9 years, institutional leadership transition is not only a possibility, but an inevitability in the life of an institution. With increasing public demands to hear the campus’ position on state, national and global issues early and often, campus advancement leaders and communications staff must understand the risks and rewards of the chief executive weighing in or issuing a statement. Presidents in the spotlight can quickly move onto the hot seat, sometimes unexpectedly accelerating leadership transition. Stakeholder communication is critical for stewardship, but when is it appropriate or necessary? How should we be advising interim and new presidents to best engage? The presenters will share their research on these topics, gathered from 11 distinct American institutions. These findings also correlate to their professional experiences navigating leadership changes. This presentation will offer both practical and first-hand knowledge along with research-based conclusions and recommendations.