CIC recently announced the 2021–2022 cohorts of the Executive Leadership Academy (ELA) and Senior Leadership Academy (SLA). The selection process for each program was extremely competitive because of the large number of highly accomplished nominees.
“The Executive and Senior Leadership Academies provide vital professional development for administrators and faculty members of CIC’s 658 Institutional Members—at a time when strong leadership of independent colleges and universities is critically needed. Many presidents and other senior officers of colleges and universities are expected to retire within the next few years, and these programs help assure a smooth transition to the next generation of leadership,” said CIC President Richard Ekman.
Over the past 11 years, 550 independent college and university leaders have participated in the ELA and SLA. Since 2009, 100 of the participants in the ten cohorts that have completed the Executive Leadership Academy have been appointed as presidents or chancellors, and many more have advanced to other senior positions. Since 2010, ten cohorts have completed the Senior Leadership Academy, of which 153 participants have experienced career advancement. In addition to the professional advancement of participants, successful outcomes also occur when participants strengthen their effectiveness in their current leadership positions.
CIC partners with the American Academic Leadership Institute (AALI) to offer the SLA and, with both AALI and the American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU), to offer the ELA. The ELA is designed for vice presidents or other cabinet officers who aspire to be college or university presidents or to perform more effectively in their current positions. The SLA is intended for mid-level administrators or outstanding faculty leaders who have been identified by their institutions as having the potential for senior leadership positions, either on their current campuses or elsewhere. Both programs include two national seminars, readings, webinars, structured mentorship guidance, and considerable emphasis on individualized experiential activities. The programs provide participants with opportunities to learn from experienced higher education administrators, to reflect on their own abilities and experiences, and to develop a strong network of mentors and colleagues in similar roles across a range of institutions.
The opening seminar for the 2021–2022 cohort of ELA will meet virtually June 24–25, 2021. Session leaders will address a wide range of topics, such as “Trends and Challenges in Higher Education,” co-led by Richard Ekman of CIC and Mildred Garcia, president of AASCU; “Presidential Transitions: Preparing, Implementing, and Living,” co-facilitated by 2015–2016 ELA alumni Alison Morrison-Shetlar, president of
University of Lynchburg (VA), and Kenichi Iwama, chancellor of Indiana University Northwest; “In Planning for the Future, Start with Your Strengths,” facilitated by Steve Titus, practice leader for executive coaching at Academic Search and former president of
Iowa Wesleyan University; and “Planning—To Prepare for Rapid Change,” led by Katherine Bergeron, president of
Connecticut College and chair of the CIC Board of Directors.
The SLA will return to a face-to-face model this fall, holding its opening seminar November 6–8, 2021, at the Galt House Hotel in Louisville, Kentucky, in conjunction with the Institute for Chief Academic Officers, with Chief Student Affairs and Chief Diversity Officers.
The ELA and SLA are made possible through the generous support of Academic Search and the American Academic Leadership Institute. Nominations for the 2022–2023 ELA and SLA will open in the fall. For more information, visit the
ELA site and the
SLA site.
CIC EXECUTIVE LEADERSHIP ACADEMY PARTICIPANTS, 2021–2022
Allegheny College (PA)
Ron Cole Provost and Dean of the College
Alma College (MI) Kathleen Dougherty Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs
Assumption College (MA) Conway Campbell Vice President for Student Success
Benedict College (SC) Emmanuel Lalande Vice President for Enrollment Management and Student Services
Cabrini University (PA) Chioma Ugochukwu Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs
Cottey College (MO) Joann Bangs Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of the College
Dillard University (LA) Roland Bullard Vice President for Student Success Gannon University (PA) Steven Mauro Vice President for Strategy and Campus Operations
Grace College and Seminary (IN) Andrew Flamm Executive Vice President
Hood College (MD) Deborah Ricker Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs
Jarvis Christian College (TX) Cynthia Stancil Chief of Staff
Malone University (OH) Gregory Miller Provost | Manhattan School of Music (NY) Joyce Griggs Executive Vice President and Provost
Maria College (NY) Anne Jung Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of the College
Mount St. Joseph University (OH) Jeffrey Briggs Chief Financial Officer Mount St. Joseph University (OH) Paige Ellerman Vice President for Compliance, Risk, and Legal Affairs, and General Counsel
Nebraska Methodist College Amy Clark Vice President for Academic Affairs
Saint Joseph’s College of Maine Michael Pardales Vice President and Chief Learning Officer
St. Catherine University (MN) Anita Thomas Executive Vice President and Provost
St. John’s College (NM) Walter Sterling Dean of the College
St. Norbert College (WI) Jennifer Bonds-Raacke Vice President for Academic Affairs
University of Lynchburg (VA) Allison Jablonski Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs
University of Puget Sound (WA) Uchenna Baker Vice President for Student Affairs and Dean of Students |
CIC SENIOR LEADERSHIP ACADEMY PARTICIPANTS, 2021–2022
Aquinas College (MI) Gretchen Rumohr Chair, English Department; Director, Inquiry and Expression Program
Berry College (GA) Alice Suroviec Dean, School of Mathematical and Natural Sciences
Biola University (CA) Carrie Stockton Associate Vice President, Student Success and Academic Engagement Birmingham-Southern College (AL) Timothy Smith Associate Provost
Bryan College of Health Sciences (NE) Amy Knobbe Dean of Healthcare Studies
Cedar Crest College (PA) Calley Stevens Taylor Dean of Student Success
CETYS University (Mexico) Alberto Garate Vice President for Academic Affairs Clarke University (IA) Courtney Leonard Executive Director of Development
Colby-Sawyer College (NH) Hilary Walrod Dean, School of Arts and Sciences
Concordia College (MN) Stephanie Ahlfeldt Associate Dean of the College
Dakota Wesleyan University (SD) Alisha Vincent Associate Provost for Program Development
Elmhurst University (IL) Brian Wilhite Associate Dean of the Faculty
Gonzaga University (WA) Jeffrey Geldien Assistant Vice President, Major and Planned Giving
Goucher College (MD) Scott Sibley Interim Associate Provost
Greenville University (IL) Kathryn Taylor Associate Chief Academic Officer and Dean of Instruction
Hiram College (OH) Jeff Swenson Associate Dean of Academic Affairs
Hollins University (VA) Darla Schumm Chair of the University Faculty
Houghton College (NY) Cathy Freytag Associate Dean of the Faculty
Huntingdon College (AL) Sarah Sours Associate Dean of the Faculty
Jarvis Christian College (TX) Lisa Lang Assistant Vice President for Academic Affairs
Moravian College (PA) Daniel Jasper Dean, School of Arts, Humanities, and Social Service
| New York Institute of Technology Tiffani Blake Assistant Provost for Student Engagement and Development
North Park University (IL) Sumie Song Director of Global Education
Norwich University (VT) Lea Williams Chair, Department of English and Communications
Palm Beach Atlantic University (FL) Nathan Lane Associate Provost
Randolph College (VA) Mara Amster Division Head, Arts and Letters
Rhodes College (TN) Tim Huebner Associate Provost
Saint Francis University (PA) Kerri Golden Assistant Dean, School of Health Sciences and Education
Schreiner University (TX) Charles Hueber Dean of Students
Seattle Pacific University (WA) Margaret Watkins Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences
Shenandoah University (VA) Astrid Sheil Dean, School of Business
Springfield College (MA) M. Susan Guyer Dean, School of Physical Education, Performance, and Sport Leadership St. Olaf College (MN) Jason Engbrecht Associate Dean of Natural Sciences and Mathematics
The College of Idaho Andrew Gades Associate Dean
The University of Findlay (OH) Kirby Overton Dean of the College of Business
Thiel College (PA) Greg Butcher Associate Academic Dean for Student Success
Wesleyan College (GA) Nicholas Steneck Associate Dean of International Education
Widener University (PA) Kimberly O’Halloran Vice Provost for Academic Affairs and Strategy
William Jewell College (MO) Daniel Holt Associate Vice President for Institutional Strategy
William Peace University (NC) Susan Childs Associate Vice President for Finance and Controller
Wingate University (NC) Caroline Hoefferle Dean of General Education
Wofford College (SC) Timothy Schmitz Associate Provost for Administration |