The SECU is an organization of university provosts established to help advance the teaching, research and service missions of the Southeastern Conference member institutions, with a focus on areas unrelated to athletics. One of the SECU initiatives has been to develop an Academic Leadership Development Program (ALDP).

The purpose of the SECU ALDP is to identify, develop, prepare, and advance academic leaders from within the faculty and administration of the SEC institutions to build a pool of individuals better prepared for such positions as provosts, deans, and department chairs/heads. The program will prepare current and potential leaders by:

1. Developing knowledge and skills required for leading faculty and academic programs, and

2. Teaching the managerial and organizational skills required to lead complex organizations.

ALDP Fellows

Nominations are now being solicited for two to four ALDP fellows from among the tenured faculty (full professor) of Mississippi State University. The nominees should be individuals who have made progress toward or expressed a strong interest in leadership roles on or off campus or who may currently be in an administrative position (i.e., department head, associate dean). Expectations for ALDP fellows are:

1. Attend two ALPD workshops. The first workshop will be held Oct. 5-7 at the University of Arkansas, and the second is scheduled tentatively for Feb. 24-26, 2016, at the University of Mississippi.

2. Prepare in advance for workshops by reading preparatory materials, etc. that will be provided.

3. Serve as mentors to 2015-2016 MSU ALDP fellows.

Nomination submissions

Nominations should be submitted to the Office of the Provost and Executive Vice President by June 5, and must include a statement by nominees regarding their interest in university leadership, an abbreviated biographical sketch, and support letters from both the department head and the college dean.

Nominees should complete the nomination form available by clicking here.

Costs

All costs associated with attendance at the workshops will be covered by the Office of the Provost and Executive Vice President.

MSU liaison

The ALDP fellows will be accompanied to the workshops by Mississippi State's ALDP liaison officer, Associate Provost for Academic Affairs Peter Ryan, who is currently serving as the chair of liaison officers.

If you have any questions regarding this program or the nomination process, please contact Ryan at ryan@provost.msstate.edu or 662-325-0730 or Ann Ray at atr22@provost.msstate.edu or 662-325-3742.