Dear Colleagues,
We are excited to announce two new opportunities for the development of emerging academic leaders. Faculty are not only the intellectual and creative engine for the university’s mission, but they also play a key role in university governance. Academic leaders guide the strategic direction of the university, by creating and fostering innovations in research, scholarship, and teaching.
Making the transition from a faculty member, focused on individual scholarship, to an academic leader, working on larger strategic objectives, can often be challenging. The skills that predicted one’s success as a faculty member may not be the same as those needed to succeed as an academic leader. In developing new programs for faculty talent development, we have placed significant emphasis on addressing this important transition phase. The Office of the Executive Vice President and Provost (EVPP) is launching two new programs to proactively prepare faculty for future leadership positions—the Aspiring Leaders Academy and Research Leaders Academy.
In the Aspiring Leaders Academy, midcareer faculty who are interested in leadership opportunities, but have not yet served in a major leadership position, will receive structured counsel from internal and external academic leadership experts. Faculty in the Aspiring Leaders Academy will also be paired with an existing university leader, with whom they will work together on new and existing initiatives. Participants will take the skills learned during the pedagogical component and apply them in a practical setting while benefiting from personalized mentorship. Participants will also develop a cohort of peers, who are at a similar career stage, for continued support during their shadowing experience. Professional track faculty, and tenured associate and full professors interested in applying for the Aspiring Leaders Academy can learn more and apply here.
The Research Leaders Academy will be run in partnership with the Office of the Vice President for Research, Scholarship and Creative Endeavors (OVPR). It is designed for established principal investigators (tenured or professional track faculty, or research scientists) who aspire to lead, or who are already leading, large-scale research initiatives. The Research Leaders Academy is specifically geared toward developing research leaders. Participants will learn how to scope a large-scale, shared scholarly vision with colleagues, how to secure external support to realize that shared vision, and how to successfully implement and manage their vision. Faculty interested in the Research Leaders Academy can learn more and apply here.
By investing in these new programs, we hope to promote faculty success, both in their intellectual pursuits and their future leadership endeavors.
Sincerely,
ALISON R. PRESTON
Vice Provost for Faculty Development
JENNIFER LYON GARDNER
Deputy Vice President for Research