Nominations Open for 2026-2027 Academic Leadership Academy (ALA)
We are pleased to announce that nominations for the Academic Leadership Academy (ALA) are now open for AY2026-2027. This initiative, supported by the Office of the Provost, is designed to cultivate and strengthen academic leadership on our campus. Launched in 2024, the ALA provides a cohort-based model, offering academic administrators and individuals interested in leadership roles the opportunity to refine essential skills in leadership style, identity, and legitimation, conflict resolution, mentorship, and work-life balance. Workshops are scheduled across the academic year and include six (6) required monthly meetings and two half-day Retreats.
For the upcoming academic year, the ALA will be offering two distinct cohorts.
ALA Cohort 3 (12 participants) is dedicated to Faculty Administrators at the Chair/Director and Associate Dean levels. Those interested in participating should reach out to their college dean by March 9, 2026, with a request for nomination. This request should include their name, job title, time in their administrative position, a short response (no more than 3 – 4 sentences) on how they expect to benefit from the program, and an assurance of full participation. Following this, the dean will select and forward up to three nominations to the ALA leadership team by March 20, 2026, providing the nominee’s details and required statement.
ALA Cohort 4 (15 participants), launching as a pilot, is for Academic Affairs Staff Administrators who are currently in a supervisory position or equivalent. The nomination process is similar: interested staff administrators should reach out to their direct supervisor by March 9, 2026, with a request for nomination. This request should include their name, job title, time in their administrative position, a short response (no more than 3 – 4 sentences) on how they expect to benefit from the program, and an assurance of full participation. Supervisors will then select and forward up to two nominations to the ALA leadership team by March 20, 2026, providing the nominee’s details and required statement.
Final cohorts for both programs will be selected and notified by April 15, 2026
If you have any questions or would like additional information, please do not hesitate to contact the ALA leadership team: Dr. Shannon Collier-Tenison ([email protected]), Dr. Tusty ten Bensel ([email protected]), or Dr. Laura Danforth ([email protected]).