A dean at Fresno Pacific University will be one of 30 higher education administrators participating in a national leadership ship development program.
Ron Herms, Ph.D., dean of the School of Humanities, Religion and Social Sciences, will be part of the 2016-2017 Senior Leadership Academy, co-sponsored by the Council of Independent Colleges and the American Academic Leadership Institute. The academy is designed to prepare prospective leaders to assume positions as the chief officers in any division—including academic affairs, student affairs, finance, enrollment management and advancement—in independent higher education.
An experienced pastor and professor, Herms is in his first university administrative role. “The CIC is an organization that will more easily allow me to add some administration and vision skills as they relate to higher education,” he said.
Among the activities during the year-long program will be an opening seminar in New Orleans, November 4-6, 2016, and a closing seminar in Washington, D.C., June 22-24, 2017. Participants will also receive mentoring, work with experts in various aspects of higher education administration, participate in webinars, engage in a series of readings and case studies and follow a plan to “fill the gaps” needed for career advancement.
“The need to prepare future leaders of colleges and universities has never been greater because the generation of people now in senior leadership positions on campus is rapidly approaching retirement,” said CIC President Richard Ekman. “Competition for the available places in the program was intense, and the review committee found the nomination materials to be most impressive.”
Higher education is increasingly complex, said Stephen Varvis, Ph.D., FPU provost/senior vice president. “To be effective, leaders need as much experience and understanding from a variety of perspectives as they can possibly get,” he said. “The CIC program is a well-established, respected way to prepare executive-level leaders. Ron will have the added benefit of working with past, current and prospective administrators from across the country to better understand what we do and how to guide an institution and faculty towards the fulfillment of its mission and purpose.”
More on the academy at cic.edu/SeniorLeadershipAcademy.