Provost’s Leadership Academy begins training third cohort

leadership-group-80PULLMAN, Wash. – Leadership projects are under way in departments, campuses and other Washington State University locations statewide with the beginning of the third annual session of the Provost’s Leadership Academy.

Begun in 2011 to enhance department chair training, the program develops leaders at the unit level which, over time, shapes the university’s future. The intent is to proactively develop leadership among faculty members as they consider pursuing more formal leadership roles.

New group starts with working retreat

Each year, deans and vice-chancellors nominate faculty members to participate. Typically they are associate professors and exceptional assistant professors (both tenure track and clinical).

Since 2011, more than 60 faculty members have participated in the academy.

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During the recent retreat, Paul Strand, left, Jerman Rose, Laura Lavine and Mary Stohr work on a case study about university faculty accommodation policies.

The 2013-14 cohort includes Kristin Arola, Brett Atwood, Dana Baker, Haluk Beyenal, Kasee Hildenbrand, Jeff Joireman, Laura Lavine, Desmond Layne, David Marcus, Kate McAteer, Judy Morrison, Kirk Peterson, Dan Rodgers, Mary Stohr, Paul Strand, Huey-Ming Tzeng and Matt Whiting.

Facilitators for the recent overnight retreat to kick off this year’s program were Jerman Rose, special assistant to the provost; Kim Kidwell, executive associate dean in the College of Human and Natural Resource Sciences; Kelly Ward, chair in the College of Education; Mary Kay Patton, assistant professor in CAHNRS; and Alex Roberts, special assistant to the provost for leadership development.

Self-understanding, values, collaboration explored

Following the retreat, training continues with multiple online and face-to-face sessions during spring semester. In fall semester, cohort members are invited to take part in department chair training focused on budgeting and personnel issues.

Goals of the year of targeted training are to: identify leadership potential; cultivate leadership skills in making values-based decisions; increase self-awareness and interpersonal skills; and apply collaborative problem solving in programs and departments.

During the recent retreat, participants explored their motivations to lead, studied leadership styles and developed their leadership values platforms. They explored personality types and effective teamwork, formed peer groups for support, examined their careers in the context of taking on leadership roles and began developing leadership projects.

Training applied in projects universitywide

The projects are tangible, collaborative efforts to practice leadership in each home unit. For example, participants may solve a problem, improve program/campus visibility, increase resources, help students become more successful or improve student retention.

For more information about the Provost’s Leadership Academy, contact Alex Roberts, special assistant to the provost, at alex.roberts@wsu.edu or 509-335-4517.