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WICHE Academy for Leaders in the Humanities
The WICHE Academy for Leaders in the Humanities prepares humanities faculty for upper-level leadership roles at higher education institutions in the West. In addition to empowering humanities faculty, who teach and conduct research in fields such as English, history, communication, languages, philosophy, religious studies, gender and cultural studies, art, music, and theater, the program combines mentorship with leadership theory and practice.
2024-2026 Cohort
| Name | Institution |
| Anna Nogar | University of New Mexico |
| Takami Nieda | Seattle Central College |
| Ray Black | Colorado State University |
| Carole Woodall | University of Colorado Colorado Springs |
| M. Keith Claybrook, Jr. | California State University, Long Beach |
| Eric Kupers | California State University East Bay |
| Christopher Moreman | California State University East Bay |
| Stephanie Bauer | University of Alaska Anchorage |
2023-2025 Cohort
| Name | Institution |
| Tina Butterfield | Western Colorado University |
| Thomas Dunn | Colorado State University |
| Ian Hartman | University of Alaska Anchorage |
| Greg Wilson | College of Western Idaho |
| J O’Brien | Laramie County Community College |
| Stacey Berry | Dakota State University |
| Laura Decker | Nevada State University |
| Eric Wolfe | University of North Dakota |
About the WICHE Academy for Leaders in the Humanities
This program was funded by a generous $1.5 million grant from the Mellon Foundation to develop a leadership program for senior humanities faculty members who want to explore higher education administration with a focus on three key competencies: career planning and development, project management, and organizational design and agility.
Learn more about the program below.
Eligibility
Senior humanities faculty members who want to explore higher education administration from any nonprofit public or private institution in the WICHE region are eligible.
Humanities majors include English, history, communication, languages, philosophy, religious studies, gender and cultural studies, art, music, and theater.
Number of Awards
- Eight institutions, with participants selected from both two- and four-year institutions, will be selected.
- Institutions must demonstrate that the fellows’ applicant pool will consist of tenured faculty members who have demonstrated leadership capability (whether through prior academic-administrative service or in other contexts within or beyond academia).
- Reflect diverse communities and experiences, and show potential to have a transformative impact at their current institution or in a future leadership role.
Project Requirements
Each fellow will work on a project that aligns with an institutional priority. The project will be centered on amplifying the work and initiatives of Humanities programming or leadership, with a focus on three key competencies: career planning and development, project management, and organizational design and agility. Faculty members selected will enter a two-year administrative fellowship program which will consist of campus-based and external mentoring and professional development for fellows selected from institutions in the WICHE region.
Fellows and Mentors
Below are the outlined requirements for both the institutional mentor and faculty fellow.
Mentors will:
- Work as an on-campus mentor to support the fellow’s institutional and organizational expertise and to support the ongoing project plan.
- Attend a two-day, in-person retreat at WICHE’s office in Boulder, Colorado, to discuss their role and support of the fellows for the grant term
- Attend quarterly virtual community of practice meetings with other mentor participants
- Provide annual progress report on the leadership development progress of the fellow
Fellows will:
- Attend a three-day, in-person retreat at WICHE’s office in Boulder, Colorado, to begin the process of building the leadership skills and operational expertise of academic leadership.
- Assume a carefully defined administrative role at their institution, reporting to a senior leader in academic affairs such as a dean, provost, or vice provost.
- Complete an extended project that advances an important institutional priority and provides an opportunity for the fellow to practice the skills they are learning.
- Have two mentors: an institutional mentor who will serve as their supervisor and the primary liaison between the institution and WICHE and an external mentor, or advisor.
Compensation
Each institution will receive a $25,000 subgrant for the two-year period to cover the following expenses:
- Increased compensation, commiserate with their role and responsibilities, and
- Travel to regional and national conferences and meetings.
- The subgrant will be distributed in two installments in July and January, respectively.
The WICHE Humanities Fellows have seen so much growth in their careers in a short amount of time, including one who is overseeing the construction of a new humanities center on their campus, and others who have applied for and been hired as deans and department chairs. I look forward to seeing what more can be accomplished for humanities departments across the WICHE region through this program.
CAMELIA NARANJO Interim Assistant Director of Academic Partnerships, Learning and Development
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Camelia Naranjo
Interim Assistant Director - Academic Partnerships Learning and Development, Programs and Services
