Seventy-four emerging higher ed leaders graduated from the July 2023 HERS Leadership Institute
Seventy-four emerging higher education leaders from across the United States participated in the July 2023 cohort of the HERS Leadership Institute, hosted on the campus of the University of Denver in Denver, Colorado. HERS (Higher Education Resources Services) hosts three cohorts of the HERS Leadership Institute each year, including two summer intensive cohorts and a weekend immersion cohort hosted throughout the academic year.
Transformational leadership development
The HERS Leadership Institute (HLI) is a transformational leadership development program for higher education professionals, founded to fill leadership pipelines across the United States with dynamic leaders capable of ushering their respective institutions into a more inclusive and equitable future. The institute is hosted in a variety of modalities, including a nine-day summer intensive version and a weekend version comprising four weekends throughout the academic year, in order to best serve participants’ needs. Whatever the mode of delivery, the rigorous curriculum, learning outcomes, pricing, and transformative quality of the experience remain the same.
During the institute, participants share their vision of leadership and what they hope to contribute to their respective institutions and are then challenged to develop the skills to actualize their professional vision. Alums of the HERS Leadership Institute emerge better skilled and more confident in leading with their unique voice, providing a much-needed infusion of bold new leadership to their respective institutions.
Diverse participants, diverse perspectives
The HERS Leadership Institute is designed for faculty and staff who generally hold mid-to-senior level positions in higher education and have a desire to emerge as more dynamic leaders for themselves and their institutions. The HERS Leadership Institute is an inclusive program, with a focus on women and people who are gender diverse. All HERS programs and services are open to all regardless of gender identity.
The setting of the HLI replicates what could happen on campus if faculty, staff, and admins were all working together, allowing everyone to gain insight into the unique perspectives of each role and learn from one another. While challenging, HERS Leadership Institutes offer a non-competitive space, and participants build community with and champion the growth of other participants both during and beyond the program.
Participants represent a range of racial and ethnic groups, gender identities, nationalities, veteran and disability statuses, religious affiliations, ages, and years of experience in higher education, thereby broadening the range of perspectives and insights brought to each session.
This cohort is one of the most diverse yet. July 2023 HERS Leadership Institute participants represent both public (about 79%) and private (about 21%) institutions, and a wide range of geographies and institutional missions. Participants represent 31 states (plus Washington, D.C.) across the United States and come from 61 unique institutions. The institutions are large and small; co-ed and single-gender; and include liberal arts, research, land-grant, government/military, and faith-based institutions, as well as Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). The cohort comprises faculty, staff, and administrators from a rich array of disciplinary backgrounds.
About HERS
Higher Education Resource Services (HERS) is dedicated to creating and sustaining a diverse community of women leaders through leadership and career development programs that support various career stages. Since its founding in 1972, HERS has been a force for change, transforming leadership and strengthening institutions of higher education. Over the past 50 years, HERS has supported the career advancement of more than 7,000 women from over 1,200 institutions across the United States and around the world, helping to shape and support bold leaders for an equal voice in the future of higher education.
Learn more about HERS at HERSnetwork.org.
July 2023 HERS Leadership Institute, University of Denver, Cohort
Lauren Anderson
William Jeffers Director of Engineering, and James T. Marcus ’50 Scholar and Associate Professor in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
Lafayette College
Kathryn Appenzeller
Director for Faculty Development and Assistant Professor of Instruction
The University of Texas at Austin
Julie Baldwin
Interim Dean of the College of Humanities and Sciences
University of Montana – Missoula
Stephanie Black
Associate Professor, College of Business
Texas A&M-San Antonio
Lynn Boorady
Professor of Fashion Design and Technology, Department Head of Design and Merchandising
Oklahoma State University
Ashley Boyd
Associate Professor of English Education and Director of Undergraduate Studies in English
Washington State University
Nicole Cain
Associate Professor of Clinical Psychology
Rutgers University-New Brunswick
Wendy Caldwell Richardson
Professor of Spanish
Francis Marion University
Tavey Capps
Executive Director of Climate and Sustainability
Duke University
Emerald Christopher
Associate Professor of Women & Gender Studies
University of Delaware
Monica Clark
Deputy Director
North Carolina State University
Jennifer Dechaine
Director of the School of Education and Associate Dean in the College of Education and Professional Studies
Central Washington University
Sonali Diddi
Associate Professor, Design and Merchandising, and Engaged Faculty Lead, Office of Engagement and Extension
Colorado State University
Shari Dworkin
Professor, School of Nursing and Health Studies
University of Washington Bothell
Melissa Eblen-Zayas
Professor of Physics
Carleton College
Kate Elliott
Interim Associate Provost and Dean of Academic Affairs, Director of CELT Luther College
Natalie Eschenbaum
Dean of the School of Interdisciplinary Arts & Sciences
University of Washington, Tacoma
Jennifer Esposito Norris
Department Chair of Educational Policy Studies and Distinguished University Professor
Georgia State University
Beth Feiten
Director of Teacher Candidate Support
Oakland University
Jennifer Flory
Professor of Music and Director of Choral Activities
Georgia College & State University (Georgia College)
Nkenge Friday
Senior Assistant Vice Chancellor for Strategic Initiatives
University of Nebraska at Lincoln
(Bridget) Kathleen Gallagher
Interim Director, Regional Sites Coordinator, Professor of Practice
Texas Tech University
Linda Sheryl Greene
Dean and MSU Foundation Professor of Law
Michigan State University
Rebecca Greer
Director of Teaching & Learning, UCSB Library
University of California-Santa Barbara
Cyndee Gruden
Dean of the College of Engineering and Physical Sciences
University of New Hampshire
Veronica Guerrero
AVP of High Impact Practices & Experiential Education
California State University-Channel Islands
Lauren Hall
Associate Dean of Academic Affairs, College of Liberal Arts
Rochester Institute of Technology
Erica Hamilton
Assistant Vice President for Academic Affairs
Grand Valley State University
Tonya Hammer
School Head
Oklahoma State University
Bryn Harris
Associate Professor, School of Education & Human Development, at the University of Colorado Denver; Department of Pediatrics (Developmental Pediatrics) at the University of Colorado Denver Anschutz Medical Campus
University of Colorado Denver | Anschutz Medical Campus
Lucy Hebert
Assistant Research Professor and Methods Core Director
Washington State University
Jessica Heier Stamm
Associate Professor of Industrial and Manufacturing Systems Engineering
Kansas State University
Cheryl Holden
Vice President for Student Services
Columbia Basin College
Karen Hutzel
Dean of the College of Visual Arts and Design
University of North Texas
Shirley A. Jackson
Professor of Sociology
Portland State University
Penny Jones
Administrator
The Ohio State University
Junehee Kwon
Professor and Head of the Department of Retail, Hospitality, and Tourism Management
University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Rachel Levitt
Teaching Associate Professor
Kansas State University
Angela Lewis-Maddox
Assistant Dean, Academic Integrity Coordinator, Professor
University of Alabama-Birmingham
Nakia Logan
Director of Student Services
National Defense University
Chris Marston
Associate Dean, College of Humanities and Social Sciences, and Professor
University of Northern Colorado
Judith Martínez
Associate Professor of Literature, Provost Fellow for Faculty Development, and Director of Faculty Mentoring Program
Missouri State University
Molly McGehee
Associate Dean for Faculty Development and Professor of English & American Studies
Emory University
Anna McLeod
Director of Student Services
Washington State University
Gretchen Meyers
Associate Professor of Classics and Director of Strategic Projects
Franklin & Marshall College
Maria Munoz
Interim Chief Inclusion and Diversity Officer, Associate Professor of History
Susquehanna University
Rachel Nuñez
Associate Professor of History and Director of General Education
Hollins University
Leah Olson-McBride
Professor and Chair
University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire
Su-Mei Ooi
Associate Professor of Political Science, Director of Academic Affairs for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, and Faculty Director of the Butler in Asia Program
Butler University
Shannon Overbay
Professor of Mathematics and Chair of Integrated Media
Gonzaga University
Yansi Perez
Associate Provost and Director of Advising, and Professor of Spanish
Carleton College
Malaphone Phommasa
Assistant Dean, Academic Success Initiatives
University of California-Santa Barbara
Jodi Price
Associate Dean and Professor of Psychology
University of Alabama in Huntsville
Tricia Rabel
Executive Director of Housing and Residence Life
Central Washington University
Rachel Rui
Communications Director and Director of Office of Asia Engagement, Center for Global Engagement
University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Orit Shaer
Professor and Chair of Computer Science
Wellesley College
Karla Slocum
Professor of Anthropology and Senior Associate Dean for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Alexis Smith Washington
Associate Professor of Management
Oklahoma State University
Jane Southworth
Professor & Department Chair
University of Florida
Liz Steinborn-Gourley
Director of the Women’s Center and Vice President of Service Faculty Union
Minnesota State University, Mankato
Jessica Summers
Professor and Department Head, Educational Psychology
University of Arizona
Virginia Tomlinson
Associate Vice President of Information Services and Security / CIO
Central Washington University
Maria Urrutia
Associate Professor of Dance
West Chester University of Pennsylvania
Kathy Van Heuvelen
Associate Dean of Faculty
Harvey Mudd College
Marieke Van Puymbroeck
Associate Dean of the Graduate School and Professor of Recreational Therapy
Clemson University
Laura Vandenberg
Associate Vice Chancellor for Research & Engagement, and Professor of Environmental Health Sciences
University of Massachusetts, Amherst
Julie Velasquez Runk
Director and Professor of Environment and Sustainability Studies
Wake Forest University
Nathalie Wall
Professor of Material Science and Engineering and of Nuclear Engineering
University of Florida
Kerry Walton
Associate Dean for Academic Services
West Chester University
Shannon Wanless
Associate Professor of Education and Director of Center on Child & Family Research and Programming
University of Pittsburgh
Heather Woods
Associate Professor of Media and Communication and Associate Director for Graduate Programs and Research
Kansas State University
Xinghui Zhao
Director of School of Engineering and Computer Science, Associate Professor of Computer Science
Washington State University
Coronda Ziegler
Senior Student Success Manager
Colorado State University Ft. Collins
Andrea Zito
Assistant Dean for Student Engagement
University of Pittsburgh
