Five faculty members have been named 2011-12 fellows in the Academic Leadership Program of the Committee on Institutional Cooperation (CIC).
Established in 1989, the Academic Leadership Program helps faculty members who show exceptional ability and promise to develop leadership and managerial skills for administrative roles in higher education. The fellows attend three seminars during the academic year that focus on issues facing contemporary higher education, including globalization, sustainability, financial planning and budgeting, diversity, and public engagement.
“One of the real benefits of this program is the opportunity the fellows have to learn about how other universities are addressing issues that are of concern on our campus as well,” Provost Phil Hanlon says. “They bring insights and new ideas back to Ann Arbor for our consideration.”
At U-M, faculty members are nominated for the ALP program by their deans, with final selection made by the provost’s office. Vice Provost Christina Whitman, who oversees the program, notes that all the nominees show a strong aptitude for academic leadership.
“This program encourages faculty to explore different kinds of leadership roles and learn about a range of issues in higher education so that they can contribute to the university in many ways”, she says. “We’re pleased to have such strong representation from across the campus in this year’s group of fellows.”
The 2011-12 ALP fellows:
• George Garcia is associate professor of medicinal chemistry in the College of Pharmacy and also serves as associate chair of the department. Garcia received his doctorate at the University of California-San Francisco and did post-doctoral work at Cambridge University.
• Joseph Himle is associate professor of social work in the School of Social Work (SSW) and associate professor of psychiatry in the Medical School. He also is director of the Curtis Research Center at SSW and the associate director of the Anxiety Disorders Program at the Medical School.
• Priscilla Lindsay is professor and chair of the Department of Theatre and Drama in the School of Music, Theatre & Dance. An accomplished actor and director, she was associate artistic director at the Indiana Repertory Theater for 12 years, as well as director of its Summer Conservatory for Youth.
• Twila Tardif is professor of psychology and associate dean for social sciences in LSA. She also is a faculty associate at the Center for Chinese Studies. Prior to her appointment as associate dean, she was the director of the Center for Human Growth and Development at U-M.
• Elona Van Gent is an associate professor in the School of Art & Design. Recognized for her innovative use of three-dimensional computer technologies, she has internationally exhibited her sculptures, prints and animations. She has filled leadership roles for ACM Siggraph and the International Sculpture Organization and, before beginning her faculty career, she served as executive director of the Urban Institute for Contemporary Arts in Grand Rapids.
