Foundations of Academic Leadership (FAL) equips newly appointed Departmental Executive Officers (DEOs) with the necessary skills to lead departments and units in alignment with collegiate and institutional goals while building connections with peers and campus partners.
The program includes a half-day orientation, 8 group sessions throughout the academic year, and 5 individual sessions with an Organizational Effectiveness leadership coach.
New DEO Orientation
August 24, 2026 | 12:00 – 4:30 p.m.
| Time | Agenda | Facilitator |
|---|---|---|
| 12:00 – 12:45 p.m. | Lunch | Kevin Kregel, executive vice president and provost |
| 12:45 – 1:15 p.m. | Understanding the DEO Role: Navigate the transition from faculty to departmental leadership, balancing dual responsibilities, and engaging in higher-level strategic thinking. Governance & Organizational Context: Contextualize DEO responsibilities within broader collegiate and university structures. DEO Toolkit: Explore key resources to help guide conversations, lead and manage your department, and mentor faculty. | Barry Thomas, senior vice provost |
| 1:30 – 2:00 p.m. | Faculty HR Basics, Policies, and Procedures: Understand critical policies and procedures policies that impact faculty and departmental operations. | Alaina Hanson, senior director of faculty HR |
| 2:00 – 2:30 p.m. | Working with Institutional Data: Make data-informed decisions aligned with departmental, collegiate, and university priorities. | Kris Yows, associate director of administration and planning Matt Anson, data analytics and insight, ITS Matt Hodges, data literacy project manager |
| 2:45 – 3:15 p.m. | Budget & Resource Management: Learn the basics of managing revenue sources and resource allocation. | Emily Campbell, associate vice president, operations and decision support |
| 3:30 – 4:30 p.m. | People Management: Develop supervisory skills to manage conflict and navigate difficult conversations. | Eean Crawford, faculty director, Tippie Leadership Collaborative, Henry B. Tippie Research Fellow |
Academic Year 2026-2027 Sessions
ADVANCED FACULTY HR
Alaina Hanson
Understand policies and practices related to faculty searches, promotion and tenure, reviews, and more
LEADERSHIP COMMUNICATION
Carl Follmer
Communicate priorities and decisions with transparency, accountability, and purpose
MEETING MANAGEMENT
Jennifer Nahrgang
Communicate expectations, set effective agendas, and facilitate meaningful discussions
MANAGING CHANGE / MINDFUL LEADERSHIP
Kim Moses & Erin Litton
Shape departmental culture, guiding change, and managing conflict
STRATEGIC PLANNING
Barry Thomas
Develop departmental strategic plans in alignment with collegiate and university priorities
CRITICAL FRIENDS
Barry Thomas & Coaches
Engage with peers to reflect on leadership challenges, share candid feedback, and refine strategies
CRITICAL FRIENDS
Barry Thomas & Coaches
Engage with peers to reflect on leadership challenges, share candid feedback, and refine strategies
REVIEW & PLANNING LUNCH
Barry Thomas & Coaches
Reflect on first-year challenges and successes and plan next steps for continued leadership development
Individual Coaching
DEOs will meet individually with an Organizational Effectiveness leadership coach for five sessions over the course of the academic year. The first session will be 1 hour; all subsequent sessions will be 45 minutes. Your coach will contact you for scheduling.
September – November
Session 1: Orientation and Vision
Envision successes, recognize opportunities and challenges
Choose areas of focus for the coaching relationship
Session 2: DISC Profile
Clarify leadership practices that link your goals to your vision
Use DISC profile for building trust and organizational culture
February – April
Sessions 3 & 4: Focused Coaching Sessions
Apply coaching to current challenges and opportunities
Explore strategies and practices to support your goals
Session 5: Closure and Sustainability
Reflect on progress and key insights
Identify strategies to sustain growth and maintain momentum