Elisabeth Sherwin, associate professor of psychology, and Sarah Beth Estes, associate professor of sociology, were featured panelists in the recent 12^th Annual International Leadership Association (ILA) Global Conference in Prague, Czech Republic last month.

They presented a roundtable paper summarizing a faculty leadership program initiated by Deborah Baldwin, dean of the UALR College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences (AHSS), titled “Developing Leadership in Academia: the Next Generation.”

The AHSS Faculty Leadership Program is designed to ensure retention at both the faculty and student levels. Estes, who is also the director of the Genders Studies program, works on the concept of mentorship for female students.

“One of our goals is to connect these students to other professional women in the community for skills education and service activities,” Estes said.

Sherwin is concentrating on new faculty by creating a program that supports the entire career of a faculty member from hiring to post tenure.

“We want to mentor new faculty and help them think about pre-tenure reviews, set up research circles, and help with their academic publications,” Sherwin said. “We want to make their transition easier.”

ILA is the global network for all those who practice, study, and teach leadership, promoting a deeper understanding of leadership knowledge and practices for the greater good of individuals and communities worldwide. It is the largest international and interdisciplinary membership organization devoted solely to the study and development of leadership.

For more information, contact Sherwin at ebsherwin@ualr.edu or Estes at ebestes@ualr.edu.