Fifth Annual Deans Institute
Wednesday, January 20, 2016
The ACAD Deans’ Institute is sponsored this year by Pearson
The ACAD Deans’ Institute provides an opportunity for ACAD members and other academic
administrators to develop their leadership abilities in a supportive environment. It is designed especially
for deans, provosts, associate deans and provosts, and other academic leaders above the rank of
department head.
ACAD members have been vocal in their requests for professional development activities focused
specifically on the work life of academic deans and also for additional opportunities to interact and learn
from each other. This institute is the result. It is intended to be an active process of gathering,
exchanging, and trying out ideas and approaches to the job.
The goals of the day-long institute are:
 Advancing the leadership abilities of deans and academic administrators
 Sharing valuable information about the current state of the deanship
 Providing updates on important developments in the world of higher education
 Creating networking opportunities
Preliminary Program
8:45-9:00 am
Welcome and Introduction to the day
Carl O. Moses, ACAD Past-Chair and Professor, Susquehanna University
9:00-10:15 am
Opening Plenary—Dr. Marjorie Hass, President, Austin College
The Deanly Virtues
Aristotle’s practical ethics teaches that cultivating the virtues particular to an occupation increases our
ability to perform with excellence and makes us happier. But discerning and practicing the “Deanly
virtues” can be a challenge amidst the pressures and competing interests faced by the Dean. In this talk,
I share what I have learned about how to engage this challenge with enthusiasm to make the work of
the Dean more effective and satisfying.
Marjorie Hass became the 15th president of Austin College in July 2009 and has strengthened the
College’s firm foundation of success, promoting a culture of academic excellence and a commitment to
educational access for talented students regardless of financial background. Her vision is to see every
graduate of Austin College provide valuable and insightful contributions to an interconnected and
actively dynamic world.
Engaged with higher education issues beyond her own campus, Dr. Hass is a member of the board of the
Council for Independent Colleges (CIC), serving on the executive committee as the vice chair for
resource development, and is vice chair of the board of the National Association of Independent
Colleges and Universities (NAICU). She is active in the Independent Colleges and Universities of Texas
(ICUT) and is a presidential sponsor for the Texas Women in Higher Education conference. Dr. Hass
currently serves on the Association of Governing Board’s Council of Presidents and the board of trustees
of the Hockaday School in Dallas, Texas, and recently completed terms on the NCAA Division III
Management Council and the board of trustees of the Texas Bar Foundation.
Prior to her presidency at Austin College, Dr. Hass served as provost at Muhlenberg College in
Allentown, Pennsylvania. She began her career at Muhlenberg in 1993 as a member of the philosophy
faculty and also served as director of Muhlenberg’s Center for Ethics. Her scholarship and teaching
focus on issues in philosophy of language and philosophy of logic.
Dr. Hass earned her bachelor’s degree, master’s degree, and Ph.D. in philosophy at the University of
Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.
10:15-10:30 am Morning beverage break
10:30 am -11:30 am
Round tables I—reports, recommendations, and new directions in higher education
Participants will be asked prior to attending to select their preference for three round table discussions
they wish to participate in and then will be notified of assignments upon arrival. Attendees will
participate in one selection before lunch and a different selection after lunch. After round table
discussions conclude each table will be asked to provide a brief presentation on some of the important
reports, recommendations and new directions in higher education.
11:45 am -12:45 pm
Round tables II—reports, recommendations, and new directions in higher education
Participants will be asked prior to attending to select their preference for three round table discussions
they wish to participate in and then will be notified of assignments upon arrival. Attendees will
participate in one selection before lunch and a different selection after lunch. After round table
discussions conclude each table will be asked to provide a brief presentation on some of the important
reports, recommendations and new directions in higher education.
1:00 pm -1:50 pm
Networking lunch (included with registration)
2:00 pm -3:00 pm
Round tables III—reports, recommendations, and new directions in higher education
Participants will be asked prior to attending to select their preference for two round table discussions
they wish to participate in and then will be notified of assignments upon arrival. Attendees will
participate in one selection before lunch and a different selection after lunch. After round table
discussions conclude each table will be asked to provide a brief presentation on some of the important
reports, recommendations and new directions in higher education.
3:00 pm -3:15 pm Afternoon beverage break
3:15-4:30 pm
Closing Plenary—Dr. Emily Chamlee-Wright, Provost and Dean of the College, Washington College
Mentoring Department Chairs into Faculty Leaders
When faculty think about the most rewarding roles of their professional life, serving as department chair
rarely rises to the top. How do we as Deans change that? In this workshop we will explore ways we can
coach department chairs to positively impact the careers of their colleagues and lead their departments
from good to great.
Emily Chamlee-Wright is Provost and Dean of the College at Washington College and editor of the
recently released volume Liberal Learning and the Art of Self Governance (Routledge 2015)