February 9, 2022

South Carolina to Host SEC Academic Leadership Development Program Workshop

University of South Carolina's historic horseshoe

By: SEC Staff
SECU (Twitter: @TheSECU)

The University of South Carolina is set to host the 2022 SEC Academic Leadership Development Program (SEC ALDP) workshop, the first for the 13th cohort, February 16-18. Fifty participants (i.e., fellows) are scheduled to visit the university for a three-day event that will feature interactive sessions and programing at iconic locations on the South Carolina campus.

The workshop is under the guidance of Dr. Cheryl Addy, South Carolina’s Vice Provost and Dean of Faculty. Dr. Addy’s responsibilities include oversight of faculty affairs and direction of faculty leadership development opportunities and grant programs. She has been the university’s SEC ALDP administrator since 2016.

Dr. Addy (center) facilitates a discussion at a previous SEC ALDP workshop.

Selected earlier this academic year, members of cohort 13 serve in a range of leadership positions, including department chairs and heads; assistant and associate deans; and program and center directors. Their academic interests range from nursing to sport management to engineering to psychology and music.

“It was great to learn how each SEC university approaches various areas of leadership on their campuses,” said Dr. Nichelle Robinson, a former SEC ALDP fellow. “I also enjoyed getting to know the other SEC fellows, to understand their journey to leadership and their ‘why.’ I was able to relate a lot of their experiences to similar ones on my campus.”

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, SEC ALDP cohort 13 is in the middle of an altered schedule that includes both virtual sessions and in-person workshops. The University of Georgia hosted a virtual program launch last October, and beside the upcoming workshop, fellows will participate in a summer virtual session and a second in-person workshop at Georgia next fall.

The goal of the SEC ALDP 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 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 SEC Academic Leadership Development Program is a cornerstone of the Conference’s academic programming,” said Dr. Torie A. Johnson, SEC Associate Commissioner for Academic Relations. “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.”

There are 50 SEC ALDP fellows in cohort 13, and nearly 500 have completed the program since its inception in 2008.

Click here for a full list of 2021-2022 SEC ALDP fellows.