February 19, 2018

Auburn to Host Final SEC Academic Leadership Development Program Workshop of the Year

SEC Academic Leadership Development Program fellows participate in interactive workshop session. (photo by Megan Bean / © Mississippi State University)

By: SEC Staff
SECU (Twitter: @TheSECU)

The SEC Academic Leadership Development Program (SEC ALDP) continues this week as participants visit Auburn University for the final workshop of the 2017-2018 academic year.

The SEC ALDP seeks to identify, prepare and advance academic leaders for roles within SEC institutions and beyond. It has three components: a university-level development program designed by each institution for its own participants (i.e., fellows); two SEC-wide workshops held on specified campuses for all program participants; and a competitive fellowship designed to provide administrative growth opportunities for former fellows.

Under the direction of Assistant Provost Dr. Andy Gillespie, the spring workshop will feature interactive sessions on philanthropy in higher education, university budgeting and managing communications. In addition, senior leaders from Auburn, including Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Dr. Bill Hardgrave, will be on hand to interact with participants.

As 2017-2018 marks the 10-year anniversary of the SEC ALDP, former fellows will also return to discuss, “So, What’s Next?” with members of the current cohort, who will be recognized for completing the program on the final day of the workshop.

“The SEC Academic Leadership Development Program is the cornerstone of the Conference’s academic initiative, SECU Executive Director Dr. Torie A. Johnson said. “The longevity of this program, designed ultimately to strengthen the academy, is a testament to its usefulness and value, along with the success of our former fellows.”

Many SEC ALDP alumni have taken leadership positions at universities around the SEC and country, including some now serving as deans and provosts. For example, Dr. Michael Hardin from the University of Alabama’s 2008-09 cohort is currently Provost at Samford University, and Dr. Sonja Feist-Price from the University of Kentucky’s 2012-2013 cohort is Vice President for Institutional Diversity at UK. In total, more than 350 faculty and academic administrators have completed the SEC ALDP.

Click here for the full list of 2017-18 SEC ALDP fellows.