Description

A recent study conducted by the American Council on Education found that college and university presidents are still predominantly white and male. While 30% of women were in the top leadership roles in 2016, the percentage of presidents of color increased by only four percent since 2011 to 13%, rising to 17% in 2016. People of color continue to experience challenges in ascending to the most senior roles within higher education institutions. Administrative leaders of color face a number of internal, institutional and societal challenges in order to survive, thrive and advance. These challenges relate to each other and interact in ways that are centered in the questions that guide the curriculum of the Academic Leadership Institute.  HLF aims to enrich public discourse in part by cultivating new leaders; ALI is in close alignment with this aspect of the Foundation’s mission. Participants will represent a range of academic disciplines and institution types and would thus cut-across multiple HLF Program areas. ALI is a collaboration between Dr. Earl Lewis, Founding Director of the Center of Social Solutions at the University of Michigan, and Dr. Dwight A. McBride, former President of the New School; both institutions have long-standing relationships with HLF as grantees. Foundation staff invited the ALI leadership team to submit a request for support for ALI’s inaugural year, 2021. An in-residence program, ALI brought together faculty with experience in higher levels of college administration and a focus on diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts who aspire to be future college and university provosts and presidents. The Institute created a space for participants to learn from other leaders how to prepare themselves for taking on the role of transforming higher education to make it more equitable, diverse, and inclusive. Selected participants – 22 in the inaugural program at Swarthmore College in August 2021 – took part in conversations with 30 current and former presidents, chancellors, and other higher educational institution leaders during the week. They gained deeper insight into a broad range of subjects including institutional visioning; management of student life, academic affairs, and business and finance; crisis management; development; ecosystem mapping; creating an inclusive culture; building a team; and planning for entering the presidential search process.   The organizers were encouraged by the evaluation of the first convening, Making a few modest adjustments based on the feedback they received, the organizing team renewed the program and sought additional funding for future convenings.   HLF funds would support travel and meeting expenses, and marketing and advertising for two additional convenings. The University of Michigan and The New School would provide in-kind administrative support.