On July 28th, 2024, the Academic Leadership Institute (ALI) began their 4th annual Residential Program.
A cohort of 22 applicants from across the country were selected to take part in the five-day program, which consisted of workshops, panels, and extensive discussions about the implementation of DEI in their institutions. The ALI faculty was composed of higher education leaders, many of whom participated in previous iterations of the program.
Academic Leadership Institute’s (ALI) mission is to increase the representation of rising leaders committed to issues of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI), including faculty of color. The Residential Program helps colleagues on the path to becoming future presidents and provosts and utilize the small network of current and former presidents and provosts who have demonstrated leadership in DEI principles, to provide a forum for more intentional and scalable mentoring of the next generation of such leaders. The cornerstone of this Institute is the annual residential program held in Swarthmore, Pennsylvania.
Among many topics, Earl Lewis, co-founder of ALI, and Rachel Toor held a seminar titled “Higher Education: Future Trends and Politicalization”. The program also facilitated team building and collaboration within the cohort. Dwight McBride, co-founder of ALI, moderated a session called “Building Your Team”, prompting members to consider identity, impart “other awareness”, and delegate down.
A few of the other topics included in the 2024 program: In Our Current Moment: Reframing the Work of Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion moderated by Robin Means Coleman, Academic Leadership and Risk Management in the Current Legal and Political Climate presented by Aisha Oliver-Staley, and Development and Fundraising: Through the lens of a university leader lead by Penelepe C. Hunt.
Amidst the current landscape of higher education, where many institutions are seeing the end to DEI departments and positions, the cohort quickly bonded over their collective mission to champion inclusivity within their current and future leadership roles.
Congratulations to the 2024 cohort for completing the Residential Program and joining our network of academic leaders!
