FORWARD recently awarded Leadership Development Grants to Yeong Rhee, associate professor of health, nutrition and exercise sciences; and Rooth Varland, associate professor of theatre arts and theatre coordinator, theatre arts. The leadership development program promotes the advancement of talented, tenured women faculty by providing funds for attending a national leadership training program.
Varland will use her grant, which is co-funded by the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Science and Division of Fine Arts, to attend the Higher Education Resource Services Bryn Mawr Summer Institute at Bryn Mawr College in Pennsylvania for two weeks in June. Rhee will attend the Higher Education Resource Services Denver Summer Institute for two weeks later in the summer. The College of Human Development and Education co-funded her grant.
Earlier this semester, FORWARD hosted a full-day leadership workshop for 29 current and emerging campus leaders. The facilitators, Claudia Plaisted Fernandez and Ruben Fernandez from Fast Track Leadership, helped attendees gain insights, tools and skills to engage, lead and motivate colleagues. Participants said the experience was a positive networking experience that equipped them to continue their current leadership role or pursue a new leadership role.
To further promote leadership development for more individuals on campus, FORWARD will host an American Council on Education Regional Forum in Fargo in September. The Forum will help emerging leaders hone their leadership skills in critical areas such as fundraising, media relations, crisis management and strategic planning. It also will provide an environment where attendees can think about career next steps and develop a search strategy. More information on the event is forthcoming.
NDSU is student focused and committed to its land-grant mission.