September 8, 2022

Three Administrators Named SEC Academic Leadership Development Program Liaisons

From left to right: Dr. Lesley Williams Reid of the University of Alabama, Dr. Anna Zajicek of the University of Arkansas and Dr. Sue Nokes of the University of Kentucky

By: SEC Staff
SECU (Twitter: @TheSECU)

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. – Three longtime university administrators have been named liaisons for the Southeastern Conference Academic Leadership Development Program, the SEC announced on Thursday.

Dr. Lesley Williams Reid of the University of Alabama, Dr. Anna Zajicek of the University of Arkansas and Dr. Sue Nokes of the University of Kentucky will serve as new program administrators at their respective institutions.

As a liaison, each person works with the- chief academic officer to identify individuals to participate as fellows in the SEC ALDP. They will also collaborate with liaisons from other SEC member universities to administer the multi-faceted SEC program.

“The SEC Academic Leadership Development Program’s success correlates with the commitment it receives from the individual university liaisons,” said Dr. Torie Johnson, SEC associate commissioner for academic relations. “Lesley, Anna and Sue will be tremendous in these roles as their leadership and support will help grow the program on their campuses and within the Conference.”

Reid is the associate provost for faculty affairs at Alabama. Prior to that, Reid was the interim dean for the School of Social Work. Reid became part of the Alabama faculty in 2014, as she was named professor and previously served as chair for the Department of Criminology and Criminal Justice.

Zajicek serves as Arkansas’ interim vice provost for faculty affairs. After joining Arkansas’ faculty in 1994, she has been in roles such as associate dean for the College of Arts and Sciences as well as chair, vice chair and graduate program director in the Department of Sociology and Criminology. Zajicek was part of the inaugural group of the SEC ALDP Fellows in 2008.

Nokes is the acting associate provost for faculty advancement at Kentucky. A part of the UK faculty since 1995 in primarily research and teaching roles, Nokes was most recently associate dean for faculty affairs and facilities for the College of Engineering. She also served as chair of the Biosystems and Agricultural Engineering department.

The SEC ALDP also welcomes back two former liaisons this year. Dr. Sarah Covert, interim associate provost for academic programs at the University of Georgia, returns after being a liaison in 2017-18 and a fellow in the 2013-14 cohort. Dr. Jane Cassidy, senior vice provost for academic affairs at Louisiana State University, joins the group after being LSU’s liaison from 2011-2020 when she paused to serve the university as interim vice president for civil rights and Title IX.

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 three-day workshops held on specified campuses for all program participants; and a competitive fellowship designed to provide administrative growth opportunities for former fellows.