DEO Workshops and Conversations with Campus Leaders
THESE INTERACTIVE SESSIONS WILL NOT BE RECORDED.
DEO workshops and conversations will not be recorded to allow participants to ask frank questions and discuss leadership issues in real time. We offer these via Teams to allow for the most flexible access.
| Date/Time | Session | COHORT | DESCRIPTION | RESOURCES |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 10, 2025 8–9:30 am Teams | Leading Through the Faculty Career Life Cycle | DEOs | Understand UI faculty tracks, ranks, distribution, and demographics; Map your unit faculty; Manage opportunities and challenges related to the faculty career life cycle | Mapping your departmental faculty |
| Sep 25, 2025 8–9 am Teams | Conversation with Academic Leadership | DEOs | Kevin Kregel, executive vice president and provost | |
| Oct 7, 2025 1:30–2:30 pm Teams | Navigating Difficult Conversations | DEOs | Understand different conflict management styles and their impact on difficult conversations; Learn specific strategies for navigating various types of difficult conversations; Create psychological safety to facilitate open dialogue and problem-solving | |
| Oct 21, 2025 8–9 am Teams | Conversation with Communication Leadership | DEOs | Jeneane Beck, assistant vice president for external relations Maria Lukas, deputy general counsel | |
| Nov 12, 2025 9:30–10:30 am Teams | Collaborative Leadership: Enhancing Faculty Decision Making Through Dialogue | DEOs | Create a welcoming and inclusive faculty culture; Practice participatory decision making; Collaborate for effective problem solving | |
| Dec 2, 2025 8–9 am Teams | Taking the Misery out of Meetings | DEOs | Identify and eliminate negative factors that make meetings miserable; Utilize new principles for scheduling and preparing for productive meetings; Build faculty trust through proactive facilitation and follow-up | |
| Feb 3, 2026 8–9 am Teams | Conducting Annual Reviews | DEOs | Reframe the purpose of the annual review; Establish clear expectations and outcomes for faculty performance; Document faculty goals, achievements, and support opportunities | |
| Feb 18, 2026 8–9 am Teams | Conversation with Research Leadership | DEOs | David Schwebel, vice president for research | |
| Mar 12, 2026 8–9 am Teams | Conversation with Finance Leadership | DEOs | Terry Johnson, university chief financial officer and treasurer Emily Campbell, associate vice president for operations and decision support | |
| Mar 25, 2026 8–9 am Teams | Managing Up, Down, and Sideways | DEOs | Align department goals with college/university goals (Up); Build trust and confidence in your team (Down); Collaborate with peers to mobilize support for a tangible vision (Sideways) | |
| Apr 8, 2026 8–9 am Teams | Conversation with Student Affairs Leadership | DEOs | Sarah Hansen, vice president for student life Angie Reams, associate vice president and dean of students | |
| Apr 28, 2026 8–9 am Teams | Care for Yourself and Others | DEOs | Recognize the difference between stress and anxiety; Reframe how we talk about emotions; Develop strategies for mindfulness and resilience |
Iowa Academic Leadership Academy
The Iowa Academic Leadership Academy (IALA) is designed to assist new or aspiring leaders (e.g., DEOs, program directors, associate deans) in making a successful transition to these key campus leadership roles. The program is designed to be complementary to collegiate support for leaders. Competency-based content will be delivered via small cohorts and one-on-one mentoring tailored to individual needs and goals. There will also be an opportunity to meet and learn from key institutional leaders.
Program participants will experience:
- Competency-based curriculum built upon national models and research
- Cross-college cohort interactions with other leaders to discuss topics and challenges
- Self-guided learning carried out in confidential one-on-one coaching sessions
- Access to key resources, both people and tools, to assist with leadership issues as they emerge
- Networking opportunities with seasoned campus leaders
Nominations for participation in the cohort must be submitted through collegiate deans and associate deans for faculty. Call for nominations will be sent late April/early May.
Competency-based Curriculum
The program includes content that will address: the transition to a new role, basic management skills, development of skills to successfully lead others, and development of a vision for your department and for yourself.
Group Sessions:
- Making the Transition to Leadership
- Managing Data
- Managing People
- Managing Culture
- Department Action Plan Development
- Individual Action Plan Development
Executive Coaching Sessions
Participants meet one-on-one with trained Organizational Effectiveness leadership coaches to clarify individual goals and develop tailored learning objectives.
Mentorship Programming
Teaming with a seasoned academic leader for one-on-one mentoring to discuss personal and professional goals as a leader and how to achieve those goals.
Networking Opportunities
Participants will develop cross-college cohort interactions with other leaders to discuss topics and challenges; network with seasoned campus leaders; and gain access to key resources, both people and tools, to assist with leadership issues as they emerge.
Big Ten Academic Alliance Leadership Development Opportunities
The Big Ten Academic Alliance (BTAA) offers a comprehensive range of leadership development programs designed for faculty and higher education administrators, bringing perspectives that are unique to individuals from large R1 universities.
Deans, Directors, DEO Listserv
Maintained by UI Printing and Mailing Services; directed toward deans, directors, and departmental officers but also open to other subscribers.