SEC ALDP Begins with Workshop at University of Kentucky

October 23, 2018

SEC ALDP participants faced several small group exercises designed to test their decision-making skills.

By: SEC Staff
SECU (Twitter: @TheSECU)

Members of the 11th SEC Academic Leadership Development Program (SEC ALDP) cohort recently participated in the first workshop of 2018-2019 at the University of Kentucky.

Participants, who included more than 50 faculty and early career administrators from each SEC university and one program liaison from each campus, were joined by Kentucky President Dr. Eli Capilouto; Provost, Dr. David Blackwell; Director of Athletics, Mitch Barnhart and a host of other institutional leaders.

The goal of this longstanding SEC effort is 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.

“The content of the program was wonderful and all of the sessions had pearls of wisdom,” said Dr. Kathryn Cardarelli, Assistant Provost for Faculty Advancement at the University of Kentucky and former fellow. “I also enjoyed meeting the participants and learning more about the diversity of positions at the other SEC universities.”

This fall’s workshop began with several networking activities designed to highlight the Bluegrass region around the university, including the Keeneland racecourse and the Woodford Reserve. Formal presentations during the three-day workshop featured topics such as public-private partnerships, regulatory compliance, interfacing with intercollegiate athletics and two panel discussions.

“It has been most important for me to hear from a range of individuals from different levels of university administration,” said Dr. Jennifer Mueller-Phillips, Director of the Auburn University School of Accountancy. “As a department chair, I’m interested in the dean’s panel, but in thinking about the future, I know the provost’s panel will be invaluable.”

To complement the recently-completed workshop, this year’s participants will also visit the University of Tennessee in the spring.

Click here for the full list of 2018-2019 SEC ALDP fellows.