Academic Leadership Experience Program

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The Academic Leadership Experience Program is a workshop series that is held five times a year for Chairs and Associate Deans.

The objective is to support and provide space for Chairs and Associate Deans to share effective leadership and administrative strategies with each other, e.g., RPT Process management and documentation, effective conflict management and response, conducting faculty annual performance reviews and workload planning, and other important topics. This series of workshops is anchored by an annual retreat that occurs in August, and addresses some of the University’s strategic initiatives and their impact on academic leadership roles and responsibilities.

For questions, please contact Jennifer Diaz at Jennifer.Diaz@uvm.edu.

Academic Year 2024-2025

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Leadership Workshop V: Chairs and Associate Deans, March 5, 2025, Noon-1:15 PM: "Strategies for Effective Management of Department/Unit RPT Process and Documentation - Issues and Concerns"
Session Description: This workshop will offer strategies for effective faculty mentorship through the RPT process. Discussions include RPT process management and documentation - issues and concerns.
Panelists:
-Jane Okech, Professor of Counselor Education & Supervision; Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs
- Carolyn Bonifield, Chair, Faculty Senate Professional Standards Committee (PSC); Associate Professor, GSB
Location: Microsoft Teams
Leadership Workshop IV: Chairs and Associate Deans, January 29, 2025, Noon-1:30 PM: "How Deans/Chairs Can Combat Burnout and Support Faculty Wellbeing"
Session Description: Faculty burnout is not a new phenomenon in higher education. However, during the pandemic, additional stressors and challenges augmented many faculty pain points that existed pre-pandemic, further exacerbating burnout. This created new urgency among academic leaders to recognize that burnout is a workplace problem, and they have a unique role to play in ensuring that the academic affairs workplace environment actively promotes well-being and combats burnout. The Office of the Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs, in collaboration with EAB, offers an expert-facilitated partner intensive that convenes Chairs, Associate Deans, and Deans to discuss the long-term strategic importance of bolstering faculty well-being support. The session will also provide tools and resources to help Chairs, Associate Deans, and Deans fulfill their role in building a workplace that actively combats burnout.
Panelists:
- Melanie Overton, Director, Research Advisory Services, EAB (Education Advisory Board)
- Holly Chatham, Principal Strategic Leader, Office of the President, EAB (Education Advisory Board)
Host:
- Jane Okech, Professor of Counselor Education & Supervision; Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs
Location: Microsoft Teams
Leadership Workshop III: Chairs and Associate Deans, November 13, 2024, Noon-1:15 PM: "Strategies for Effective Faculty Performance Review: A Focus on Annual Performance Review, Workload Planning and Documentation"
Session Description: This workshop will offer strategies for effective faculty performance review. Discussions include annual performance review, workload planning, and documentation.
Panelists:
- Jane Okech, Professor of Counselor Education & Supervision; Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs
- Megan Boucher, People Relations Centers of Excellence Director, Human Resources
Location: Microsoft Teams
Leadership Workshop II: Chairs and Associate Deans, October 9, 2024, Noon-1:30 PM: "Creating Effective and Inclusive Meetings"
Session Description: This workshop offers strategies in creating effective and inclusive meetings.
Panelists:
- Amy Giordano, Senior Learning and Development Manager, Academic Impressions
- Meghan Paladino, Chief of Staff, Academic Impressions
Host:
- Jane Okech, Professor of Counselor Education & Supervision; Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs
Location: Microsoft Teams
Leadership Workshop I: Chairs and Associate Deans, August 21, 2024, 8:00 AM-1:00 PM: "Annual Retreat"
Presenters:
- Patricia Prelock, Provost and Senior Vice President
- Jane Okech, Professor of Counselor Education and Supervision; Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs
- Richard Cohen, Assessment Coordinator, Office of Institutional Research and Assessment (OIRA)
- Carolyn Bonifield, Chair, Professional Standards Committee (PSC); Associate Professor, GSB
- Jamie McGowan, Executive Director, International Partnerships & Programs
- Jennifer Papillo, Associate General Counsel, Office of the General Counsel
- Tessa Lucey, Director of Compliance Services and Chief Privacy Officer
Location: Waterman 427
(Agenda and Materials - PDF)

Academic Year 2023-2024

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Leadership Workshop V: Chairs and Associate Deans, March 27, 2024, Noon-1:30 PM: "Strategies for Effective Management of Department/Unit RPT Process and Documentation - Issues and Concerns"
Session Description: This workshop will offer strategies for effective faculty mentorship through the RPT process. Discussions include RPT process management and documentation - issues and concerns.
Presenters:
- Carolyn Bonifield, Associate Professor of Marketing, Grossman School of Business, and Chair, Faculty Senate Professional Standards Committee (PSC)
- Jane E. Okech, Professor of Counselor Education & Supervision; Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs
Human Resources Consultant:
- Megan Boucher, Director, HR Partners Center of Excellence
Location: Microsoft Teams
(Materials PDF)
Leadership Workshop IV: Chairs and Associate Deans, January 24, 2024, Noon-1:30 PM: "Conflict in Your Unit: Strategies for Effective Conflict Response"
Session Description: This workshop offers strategies for effectively responding to conflicts in your unit.
Panelists:
- Patricia A. Prelock, Provost and Senior Vice President
- Christine M. Proulx, Associate Professor and Chair, Department of Counseling, Human Development and Family Science, College of Education and Social Services (CESS)
- Thomas A. Borchert, Professor and Chair, Department of Religion, College of Arts and Sciences (CAS), and Faculty Senate President
- Megan Boucher, Manager, Labor and Employee Relations (LER), Human Resources; LER Consultant
Moderator:
- Jane E. Okech, Professor of Counselor Education & Supervision; Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs
Location: Microsoft Teams
Leadership Workshop III: Chairs and Associate Deans, November 15, 2023, Noon-1:30 PM: "Strategies for Effective Faculty Performance Review: A Focus on Annual Performance Review, Workload Planning and Documentation"
Session Description: This workshop will offer strategies for effective faculty performance review. Discussions include annual performance review, workload planning, and documentation.
Panelists:
- Paul Deslandes, Professor, Department of History; Associate Dean for Student Success, College of Arts and Sciences (CAS)
- Janis Fook, Professor and Chair, Department of Social Work, College of Education and Social Services (CESS)
- Denise Hersey, Library Professor, Dana Medical Library Director, University Libraries (LIB)
- Peter Blackmer, Associate Chief Human Resources Officer, Human Resources; Labor and Employee Relations (LER) Consultant
- Megan Boucher, Manager, Labor and Employee Relations (LER), Human Resources; LER Consultant
Moderator:
- Jane E. Okech, Professor of Counselor Education & Supervision; Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs
Location: Microsoft Teams
Leadership Workshop II: Chairs and Associate Deans, October 11, 2023, Noon-1:30 PM: "The Challenges of Academic Leadership: Strategies for Effective Responses to the Challenges of Leading Your Peers"
Session Description: This workshop offers strategies for effective responses to the challenges of leading peers.
Panelists:
- Abigail McGowan, Professor, Department of History; Associate Dean for Curricular and Enrollment Management, College of Arts and Sciences (CAS)
- Jim Vigoreaux, Breazzano Family Green and Gold Professor of Biology, College of Arts and Sciences (CAS); Joint Professor of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Larner College of Medicine (LCOM); Interim Chair, Department of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS)
- Barbara Arel, Associate Professor of Business; Associate Dean, Grossman School of Business (GSB)
- Peter Blackmer, Associate Chief Human Resources Officer, Human Resources; Labor and Employee Relations (LER) Consultant
- Megan Boucher, Manager, Labor and Employee Relations (LER), Human Resources; LER Consultant
Moderator:
- Jane E. Okech, Professor of Counselor Education & Supervision; Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs
Location: Microsoft Teams
Leadership Workshop I: Chairs and Associate Deans, August 23, 2023, 7:30 AM-1:00 PM: "Annual Retreat"
Presenters:
- Jane Okech, Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs
- Patricia Prelock, Provost and Senior Vice President
- Susanmarie Harrington, Director, Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL), and Writing in the Disciplines (WID)
- Wendy Berenback, Associate Director, Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL)
- Susan Munkres, Director, Office of Community-Engaged Learning (CELO)
- Larry Granillo, Interim Director, Office of Institutional Research and Assessment (OIRA)
- Carolyn Bonifield, Chair, Professional Standards Committee (PSC)
- Megan Boucher, Manager, Labor and Employee Relations
- Peter Blackmer, Associate Chief Human Resources Officer
- Trenten Klingerman, Vice President for Legal Affairs and General Counsel
- Jennifer Papillo, Associate General Counsel
- Tessa Lucey, Director of Compliance Services and Chief Privacy Officer
Location: Innovation E210
(Agenda and Materials - PDF)

Academic Year 2022-2023

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Leadership Workshop V: Chairs and Associate Deans, April 19, 2023, "Strategies for Effective Faculty Performance Review: A Focus on RPT Process Management and Documentation - Issues and Concerns"
Panelists: Jane Kolodinsky, Professor and Chair, Department of Community Development & Applied Economics, Interim Associate Dean for Research, College of Agriculture & Life Sciences; Thomas Macias, Professor and Chair, Department of Sociology, Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs, College of Arts & Sciences; Kimberly Vannest, Professor and Chair, Department of Education, College of Education and Social Services, 2021-2022 University Scholar; John Green, Professor and Chair, Department of Psychological Science, College of Arts & Sciences; Megan Boucher and Peter Blackmer, Labor & Employee Relations (LER) Consultants
Leadership Workshop IV: Chairs and Associate Deans, February 1, 2023, "Conflict in Your Unit: Strategies for Effective Conflict Response"
Panelists: John Green, Professor and Chair, Department of Psychological Science, College of Arts & Sciences; Thomas Macias, Professor and Chair, Department of Sociology, Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs, College of Arts & Sciences; Sara Solnick, Associate Professor and Chair, Department of Economics, College of Arts & Sciences; Jane Okech, Professor and former Chair, Department of Leadership & Development Sciences (now Department of Counseling, Human Development & Family Science), College of Education & Social Services, and Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs; Megan Boucher and Peter Blackmer, Labor & Employee Relations (LER) Consultants
Leadership Workshop III: Chairs and Associate Deans, December 7, 2022, "Strategies for Effective Faculty Performance Review: A Focus on Annual Performance Review, Workload Planning and Documentation"
Panelists: Emily Manetta, Professor and former Chair, Department of Anthropology, Associate Dean for Research & Graduate Education, College of Arts & Sciences; Eyal Amiel, Associate Professor and Chair, Department of Biomedical & Health Sciences, College of Nursing & Health Sciences; Amy Trubek, Professor and Interim Chair, Department of Nutrition & Food Sciences, College of Agriculture & Life Sciences; Jane Okech, Professor and former Chair, Department of Leadership & Development Sciences (now Department of Counseling, Human Development & Family Science), College of Education & Social Services, and Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs; Megan Boucher and Peter Blackmer, Labor & Employee Relations (LER) Consultants
Leadership Workshop II: Chairs and Associate Deans, October 26, 2022, "The Challenges of Academic Leadership: 10 Strategies for Effective Responses to the Challenges of Leading Your Peers"
Panelists: Breck Bowden, Professor and Patrick Chair of Watershed Science & Planning; Director of Water Resources & Lake Studies Center, Lake Champlain Sea Grant; Associate Dean for Faculty Development & Research, Rubenstein School of Environment & Natural Resources; Paula Deming, Associate Professor of Biomedical & Health Sciences, Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs & Research, Endowed Professor of Health Sciences, College of Nursing & Health Sciences; Jane Okech, Professor and former Chair, Department of Leadership & Development Sciences (now Department of Counseling, Human Development & Family Science), College of Education & Social Services, and Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs; Megan Boucher and Peter Blackmer, Labor & Employee Relations (LER) Consultants
Leadership Workshop I: Chairs and Associate Deans, August 24, 2022, Moderator: Jane Okech, Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs (Agenda and Materials - PDF)

Academic Year 2021-2022

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