Strengthening Academic Leadership in an Uncertain Time

Earlier this month, selected faculty from Duke and other Ivy+ schools gathered in Durham to reflect on a year’s immersion in academic leadership training.

This year’s cohort of Duke Ivy+ Provost Leadership Fellows included Lisa Huettel (Electrical & Computer Engineering), Jacquelyn McMillian-Bohler (Nursing), Jian Pei (Computer Science), Jen’nan Read (Sociology), Charlotte Sussman (English) and Jennifer Clare Woods (Classical Studies).

In addition, Lauren Ginsberg (Classical Studies) served as the Duke Ivy+ Mellon Leadership Fellow for the past two years.

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The program is designed to help faculty in the work they are already doing as chairs, associate deans and in similar academic leadership roles.

Following a kickoff at Princeton, all participants met virtually throughout the academic year to explore systems shaping the academic profession and how faculty can influence it. The Duke cohort gathered regularly on campus for discussions with top academic and administrative leaders including President Vincent Prince and Provost Alec Gallimore.

Duke hosted the three-day capstone event in early April for about 50 participants from a dozen Ivy+ universities.

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“Challenge comes with opportunity,” Price told the faculty members, referring to the current pressures facing higher education. “I think the opportunity is that we can clarify our core mission and values. How can we work in ways that are maximally effective and efficient? How can we do that work with greater transparency?”

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“You’re making a clear and concrete investment not only in your careers but also in your profession,” said Gallimore. “The most important leadership role in establishing culture is at the level of department chairs and associate deans, because you connect with the faculty directly on a day-to-day basis. Recognize the important role you play in establishing a culture. You are where the rubber meets the road.”

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Jay Pearson, associate professor in the Sanford School of Public Policy, participated in last year’s cohort and spoke to this year’s fellows in Duke Chapel.

“The opportunity to engage in real dialogue and hear about what we aspire to in our efforts, what succeeds and what fails,” he said, “and then developing relationships with folks at other institutions and with colleagues here at Duke who are in different cohorts has been the most important resource for me.”

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Emily Bernhardt, James B. Duke Distinguished Professor of Biology, was a member of the inaugural cohort. “We have to remember to make space for the joy of what we do,” she advised the fellows.

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Some Advice and Reflections From Current Ivy+ Fellows

At the conclusion of the capstone conference, fellows shared some takeaways, questions and comments as they reflected on their experiences.

• Have extremely clear communication and provide context around your decisions. Build the level of trust within the unit.
• Have flexibility and nimbleness to be able to pivot.
• You all are on the front lines of trying to navigate all this uncertainty. Think about how to contextualize people's contributions during this time for advancement, promotion and tenure.
• How can we deploy our resources to be most effective to everybody?
• The way to move forward is to strengthen what we have.
• Support of junior faculty is a big priority.
• This is a painful a moment and we can get through this in creative ways.
• This is important work, and we know it adds to excellence.
• We want the best and brightest; that will include people from diverse backgrounds.
• Collaboration is the answer to so many questions we are facing.
• Morale matters.
• It has been wonderful to learn from colleagues at other universities.
• I need not and cannot act alone. Teams matter.
• My resilience expands with fellowship.

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This leadership development experience was part of Duke Faculty Advancement’s suite of programs providing support, engagement and professional development opportunities for current and prospective faculty leaders.

Main image: Participants in the Ivy+ Faculty Advancement Network (FAN) 2024-2025 Capstone Conference gather in Duke Chapel. FAN organized a year-long learning opportunity for faculty from a dozen institutions.

Kiernan Mathews, executive director of the Faculty Advancement Network

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Ivy+ Fellow Sara Jaffee (UPenn, Psychology)

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Suzanne Barbour, dean of the Graduate School at Duke

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Ivy+ Fellows Amber Barnato (Dartmouth, Health Policy), Daniel Trueman (Princeton, Music), and Rachael De Lue (Princeton, Art & Archaeology)

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Kimberly Hewitt, vice president for institutional equity at Duke

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