Faculty leadership program prepares future university leaders
Contact: Kathryn Rodenmeyer
STARKVILLE, Miss.—Nearly 20 Mississippi State faculty members are now better equipped to guide their departments, mentor peers, and contribute to institutional growth as graduates of the university’s 2024–25 Faculty Leadership Program.
Over the past eight months, the cohort—comprised of academic teaching and research professionals from across campus—participated in targeted leadership training aimed at preparing them for greater administrative and departmental responsibilities. The program enhances MSU’s capacity for collaborative decision-making, innovation, and long-term academic excellence by investing in the development of its faculty leaders.
“The Faculty Leadership Program is designed to support academic and research leaders in advancing their careers and enhancing their leadership capabilities within the institution,” said Vice President for Research and Economic Development Julie Jordan. “We are pleased to offer a program that exposes faculty to the skills, processes and mindset required to serve the university’s mission of learning, service and research.”
Graduates of the 2024-25 Faculty Leadership Program include:
—Pratima Acharya Adhikari, associate professor, Department of Poultry Science, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
—Ryan Akers, extension professor, School of Human Sciences, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
—Bimal Balakrishnan, associate dean of research and professor, College of Architecture, Art and Design
—Caroline Betbeze Ivy, clinical professor, Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine
—Clay Cavinder, professor, Department of Animal and Dairy Sciences, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
—Hilary DeShong, associate professor, Department of Psychology, College of Arts and Sciences
—Melody Fisher, associate professor, Department of Communication, College of Arts and Sciences
—Daniel Gadke, associate dean of research, professor and head, Department of Counseling, Higher Education Leadership, Educational Psychology and Foundations, College of Education
—Caroline M. Kobia, associate professor, School of Human Sciences, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
—Stephanie Lemley, associate professor, Teacher Education and Leadership, College of Education
—Laura Marler-Templeton, professor and head, Department of Management and Information Systems, College of Business
—James McCurdy, associate professor, Department of Plant and Soil Sciences, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
—Jean Mohammadi-Aragh, associate professor, director and associate head, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Bagley College of Engineering
—Kelly Moser, associate professor, Department of Classical and Modern Languages and Literatures, College of Arts and Sciences
—David Nolen, associate dean and professor, MSU Libraries
—Michael Potter, associate professor, Department of Political Science and Public Administration, College of Arts and Sciences
—Lauren Priddy, associate professor, Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, Bagley College of Engineering
—Adrian Sescu, Airbus Helicopters Professor and interim associate dean of graduate studies, Department of Aerospace Engineering, Bagley College of Engineering
—Garrett M. Street, associate professor, Department of Wildlife, Fisheries and Aquaculture, College of Forest Resources
Participants in the eight-month program meet and engage with top administrators and attend presentations designed to hone their leadership skills. Session topics include leadership styles, organizational change, building winning research teams, strategic budgeting and planning, and communication strategies.
Applications for the 2025-26 Faculty Leadership Program, which begins in September, are being accepted through May 2. For more information about the program, visit https://www.research.msstate.edu/initiatives/faculty-leadership-development-program.
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