Provost Academic Leadership Series

The MSU Provost Academic Leadership Series provides specialized training and development for the next generation of academic leaders. The curriculum is designed to help participants focus on their individual leadership development and to enhance their understanding of the complexity of the university. While the program may help to create a pipeline of future university leaders, participation in the program does not guarantee an appointment to an academic administrative position. Participants attend a series of workshops and/or online modules over a one-year period with applied learning in topics such as:

• Conflict resolution
• Diversity and inclusion
• Leadership styles
• Legal affairs
• Management skills
• Media and communications
• Strategic planning
• University finance, planning, and assessment
• HLC or other accreditations

The annual program schedule for each cohort, based on the academic calendar, starts in August and ends the following April. Participants will attend selected sessions with new academic administrators as part of a yearly orientation program.

Each new PALS group will meet with the prior program completers to identify an interactive project in one or more of the following areas: (1) Coaching and Mentoring, (2) Leading Change (3) Building a Diverse Community and (4) the Basics of Management including budgets and day-to-day operations. Online modules will be developed to provide some foundational material in a consistent manner to be accessed and completed by PAL participants between August and April of each year.

Nomination Process

Deans will nominate up to two faculty each year. Final selections will be made by the Provost. Deans and Provost should attempt to nominate/appoint a diverse cohort. The goal is to have a seamless transition from cohort to cohort, whereas program completers can communicate with ongoing participants on the status of selected projects deemed as a high priority of the university. Each group will be assigned “go to contacts” or mentors from the academic leadership team to provide ongoing advice or support for the targeted initiatives. Participants may also be supported by travel to approved conferences which have a focus on either accreditation or academic leadership.

PALS Training Schedule 2022–2023

Subha Basu Roy, Economics, CHPA
Mandy Benedict-Chambers, Childhood Education and Family Studies, COE
Doug Gouzie, Geography, Geology and Planning, CNAS
Jason Hausback, Music, RCOAL
Carrisa Hoelscher, Communications, RCOAL
Lyon Hough, Biomedical Sciences, MCHHS
Kayla Lewis, Reading, Foundations & Technology, COE
Jackson Li, Marketing, COB
Will McClain, Environmental Plant Science and Natural Resources, COAG
Sarah Panzer, History, CHPA
Megan Rainville, Finance, Economics and Risk Management, COB
Matt Siebert, Chemistry and Biochemistry, CNAS
Shurita Thomas-Tate, Communication Sciences and Disorders, MCHHS

All sessions are held in Carrington Hall 312 conference room.

Friday, September 16
1:00 – 3:00 pm
Leadership Perspectives from Zora Mulligan and John Jasinski
 
Friday, October 21
1:00 – 3:00 pm
Processes Incorporating University Mission into Faculty Evaluation
 
Friday, November 11 
1:00 – 3:00 pm
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and Mentoring Faculty, Dr. Judith Martinez and Dr. Juan Meraz

December TBD
1:00 – 3:00 pm
Factors Leading to Efficiency in Higher Education
 
Friday, January 13
1:00 – 3:00 pm
Perspectives on Leadership with President Smart and Deans
 
Friday, February 17 
1:00 – 3:00 pm
Legal Issues in Higher Education with Rachael Dockery
 
Friday, March 24
1:00 – 3:00 pm
Conflict Resolution and Handling Personnel Issues 
 
Friday, April 21
1:00 – 3:00 pm
Institutional Research and ORA with Michelle Olsen and Rachel McGinnis 

Friday, May 5
All Day
West Plains/Mountain Grove