October 15, 2015

Arkansas Athletics Director, Former Chancellors Part of SEC ALDP Workshop

University of Arkansas Interim Chancellor Dr. Dan Ferritor and former Chancellor Dr. Dave Gearhart talk with SEC ALDP participants during the fall 2015 workshop

By: Bryant Welbourne
SECU (Twitter: @TheSECU)

The University of Arkansas hosted the SEC Academic Leadership Development Program’s (SEC ALDP) fall workshop, Oct. 5-7, in Fayetteville. The three-day event, designed for administrators who have expressed an interest in leadership in higher education, gives participants the opportunity to share personal experiences, best practices and to network with peers from other SEC universities.

SEC ALDP fellows heard from several Arkansas administrators on topics such as balancing professional and personal life, managing personnel issues and building diversity. Fellows also took part in an interactive budget exercise with Tim O’Donnell, Arkansas’ Interim Vice Chancellor for Finance and Administration.

“I enjoyed the workshop’s diverse topics and hearing from academic leaders who have graduated from the program,” said David Puleo, Associate Dean for Research and Graduate Studies in the College of Engineering at the University of Kentucky. “I loved gathering knowledge that I can apply moving forward in my career.”

The event included a presentation by Jeff Long, Arkansas’ Vice Chancellor and Director of Athletics. Long, who is also Chair of the College Football Playoff Selection Committee, spoke to attendees about leading in the public eye and shared several personal experiences from throughout his career.

“It is vital to be true to yourself and your values when leading others,” said Long. “You can’t allow a situation to distract you from what you stand for.”

The program also included a chancellors panel that featured Dr. Dan Ferritor, Interim Chancellor at Arkansas, and former Chancellor Dr. Dave Gearhart. The two had an open dialogue with participants on leadership, the relationship between the university and its numerous constituents, and the ever-changing landscape of higher education.

The final SEC-wide workshop for this year’s cohort will be held Feb. 24-26, 2016, at the University of Mississippi in Oxford.