“Expedition Leadership” - Faculty Support and Academic Leadership Development at Virginia Tech
Amy Hogan, Office of the Provost, Virginia Tech
John D. Massey, Jr., University Organizational and Professional Development, Virginia Tech
Abstract: Recent and near-future demographic, economic, and cultural changes require that institutions of higher
education focus on establishing effective programs and practices than help prepare both current teaching and
research faculty to meet these changing demands while also having in place critical faculty development and support
resources that facilitate the success of new faculty and the academic enterprise at large. Virginia Tech’s ongoing
commitment to supporting professional development and faculty career success is inspired by our motto Ut Prosim
(That I May Serve). To that end, the university supports numerous organizations in offering a comprehensive
variety of professional development opportunities. University Organizational and Professional Development, one of
the largest on-campus providers of professional development programs, offers both cohort-based programs in the
areas of management, leadership, and administrative services and also offers over 100 open-registration programs on
topics that include leading change, managing conflict, team building, supervisory skills, and desktop software
training. In addition, the Office of the Provost sponsors key faculty development programs focused on academic
leadership development and faculty career advancement.
Discussion
Academic Leadership Development - Training and development workshops are facilitated throughout the year for
those in or pursuing positions of academic leadership. Sessions are designed to provide foundational knowledge and
build skills relevant to those moving into leadership roles, including topics related to managing university resources,
legal issues, personnel support and performance management, inclusive excellence, and leadership development.
Department Heads Council - The Department Heads Council is a self-organized group focused on developing a
better collective future for Virginia Tech's academic departments and their leaders.
Goals and Objectives for the Session
Participant engagement is both encouraged and expected throughout this overview and discussion of faculty
leadership and professional development best practices at Virginia Tech. As a result of attending this session,
participants will have gained insight they can utilize to:
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Begin assessing the need for faculty leadership and professional development programs within their
respective college and/or academic department.
Identify opportunities to contribute to the enhancement and improvement of their institution’s existing
faculty leadership and professional development programs and resources.
Identify opportunities to advance their own academic careers through proactive participation in faculty
governance structures, mentoring relationships, and education/training programs offered by their academic
institution.
References
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Avolio, B., Walumbwa, F., & Weber, T. (2009). Leadership: Current theories, research, and future directions.
Annual Review of Psychology, 60(1), 421-449.
Conger, J. A., & Pearce, C. L. (2003). A landscape of opportunities: Future research in shared leadership. In C. L.
Pearce & J. A. Conger (Eds.), Shared Leadership (pp. 285-303). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
Kennedy, D. (1999). Academic Duty. Cambridge, Massachusetts: Harvard University Press.
Ekman, R. (2010). The Imminent Crisis in College Leadership. Retrieved from http://chronicle.com/article/TheImminent-Crisis-in-College/124513/
Kotter, J. (1996). Leading Change. Boston, MA: Harvard Business School Press.
Mole, B. (2012). Campuswide Leadership Programs Can Open Doors. Retrieved from
http://chronicle.com/article/Campuswide-Leadership-Programs/133315/
Sufka, K.J. (2010). Serving the University: Better Mentors for Young Professors Would Help. Retrieved from
http://chronicle.com/article/Serving-the-University-Better/66293/