Academic Leadership Academy
Since welcoming its first cohort of participants in 2010, the Academic Leadership Academy has endeavored to enhance the ability of academic administrators to provide leadership within their respective institutions. In 2022, the Center for the Study of Higher Education (CSHE) restructured to become an interdisciplinary center with a mission to conduct anti-oppressive research and partnerships that offer insight into and solutions for complex racial, social, economic, political, and legal issues as they relate to postsecondary education. In alignment with this mission, our programming has become increasingly focused on topics of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging over the past several years. In addition, we have further strengthened attention to legal issues in higher education, now including three sessions that feature legal perspectives in this year’s academy. This emphasis is both timely and essential. Now more than ever, academic leaders who wish to foster diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging must be prepared to articulate and advance those goals with clarity and commitment.
Program
Presented by faculty of Penn State’s Center for the Study of Higher Education (CSHE) and collaborating colleagues, the Academy is a place of collegial interaction to deepen your understanding of the complex challenges facing college and universities today and to chart your plans for career advancement. Our program provides participants time and a supportive structure to step back from daily deadlines and pressures. Through case study, dialogue with peers, and engagement with leadership and scholarly frameworks tailored to the higher education context, participants have the opportunity to reflect on their values and commitments as academic leaders.
Participants
The Academic Leadership Academy is designed for academic administrators and faculty who are new to their administrative roles (e.g. dean, associate dean or associate provost, department and division heads, and program directors) as well as established administrators who are preparing to take on new responsibilities and in doing so strengthen their leadership for diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging.
Given the increasing demands and complexities of higher education leadership, many academic leaders are faced with difficult internal and external challenges in promoting the success and vitality of their home institutions. Through the Academy sessions, cohort members become valued thought partners to each other as they articulate pressing challenges and share strategies for principled leadership.
Each year’s Academy cohort is comprised of a diverse group who hold academic leadership roles in U.S. higher education institutions. Our focus is on leadership for the public good; however, leaders from the for-profit/proprietary sector are welcome to attend if they believe the ALA will strengthen their leadership. (The Academy is not designed for academic leaders of colleges and universities outside the United States or for leaders of the branch campuses of U.S. institutions in other countries).
Message From The Academy’s Co-directors
LaWanda W. M. Ward, Director, Center for The Study of Higher Education, Associate Professor of Education Program, Coordinator, Residential M.Ed. in Higher Education
José A. Soto, Ph.D. Co-Director, Academic Leadership Academy, CSHE Faculty Research Associate, Professor and Associate Head of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, Department of Psychology, College of Liberal Arts
When it comes to carrying out equity-minded leadership, college and university leaders face enormous pressures. Those who are working to increase recognition of and effectively respond to the injustices and disparities faced by those who are from historically marginalized groups are increasingly being met by legislative mandates and social norms seeking to limit their speech and actions to address contemporary inequalities. In times of rapid change and decision-making under conditions of uncertainty, it is valuable to take time to develop and articulate your core leadership values. If you believe this is the right opportunity for you at this time, please nominate yourself (or seek a nomination from a senior leader whose support will enable your participation) to join Cohort 2024 of the Academic Leadership Academy.
Contact
Nominations
To be considered for the Academy, potential participants must be nominated by a colleague or complete a self-nomination form. Click on the “NOMINATE” button on this page to submit a nomination.
The nomination form includes a question requesting a brief statement (e.g., 4-5 sentences) of recommendation or for self-nominators a statement of interest explaining how the nominee’s/your prior professional experiences and current responsibilities position the nominee/you well to benefit from participation in this Academy. Please be sure to answer this question. The form is not considered complete, and an admission decision will not be made, for nominations lacking this statement.
Registration materials and payment are due by May 1, 2024. To enable timely registration, nominations will be reviewed, and acceptance decisions made, on a rolling basis. Accepted nominees will receive an email containing detailed registration instructions. Please plan to submit your registration materials at least ten days prior to the registration deadline to leave time for your forms and payment to be processed. Refer to the Details tab of this website for pricing information and registration details.