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“Leading from the Middle” is a leadership development program designed for mid-level leaders in higher education.¹ The Fall 2024 series offers a rich blend of interactive workshops, expert-led discussions, and practical sessions aimed at empowering participants to navigate the unique challenges of leadership in the “middle” of institutional hierarchies.
Through this program, attendees will gain valuable insights into maintaining their core values while adapting to new responsibilities, fostering strong relationships, addressing conflict, managing performance, and understanding important legal and ethical obligations. Participants will have the opportunity to engage with seasoned leaders and peers to discuss actionable strategies that enhance their leadership effectiveness within the dynamic environment of higher education.
¹ This program is designed for mid-level faculty administrators and staff managers/directors. A more detailed description of these kinds of roles is provided below.
Mondays from 3:00-5:00 PM ET
October 7
October 14
October 21
October 28
November 4
² HERS is a nonprofit organization. The Program Fee helps defray our technology and program facilitator expenses, as well as various administrative costs. Please review our GuideStar profile for further information about our financials and nonprofit status.
Please consult our virtual workshop and virtual program series cancellation and refund policy.
[Sessions were] very organized, targeted, optimistic, evidence-based.
The presenter was engaging, the session was participatory. I felt like we were really building community among the participants. The information shared today was truly pure gold!
Academic administrators rarely receive formal training in leadership, supervision, or performance management. This five-part interactive program provides higher ed professionals (both faculty and staff) who have recently assumed administrative or managerial roles the tools and skills necessary to lead with confidence.
Participants will engage with peers and facilitators as they gain knowledge and develop skills for managing direct and indirect reports, motivating and managing performance, navigating conflict and interpersonal dynamics, and understanding important ethical and legal considerations for leading effectively from the organizational “middle.” Importantly, the program explores the impact of intersectionality, including the nuances of gender and race, on perceptions of leadership effectiveness.
Read below for detailed descriptions of the program sessions including learning outcomes and facilitators.
This session offers an in-depth exploration of the challenges mid-level higher education leaders face in preserving their “treasures”—the unique expertise, experiences, identities, and ways of seeing the world—as they transform in new leadership roles. Participants will delve into the concepts of humanization and dehumanization as a framing for the critical importance of relationship-building and problem-solving in effective leadership.
We will examine the delicate balance required to maintain your core values and personal and professional identity while adapting to new responsibilities. Can effective leadership from the middle coexist with your unique “treasures,” or must you leave them behind? How can you lead others while undergoing your own transformation as a leader? Additionally, we’ll explore methods for inspiring the unique contributions of your team members and colleagues in ways that honor their humanity and maintain your humanity, toward the aim of becoming a humanizing leader.
Through this session, participants will gain strategies for fostering resilience and joy while effectively leading from the middle.
Facilitator: María del Carmen Salazar, Ph.D.
Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs and DEIJA and Professor of Curriculum & Instruction and Teacher Education in the Morgridge College of Education at the University of Denver
Conflict is an unavoidable aspect of leadership, arising from the dynamic nature of relationships within any organization. Effective conflict management is crucial for leaders who aim to foster a collaborative and productive environment. In this session, we will explore the multifaceted nature of conflict by examining our roles in various conflict situations and understanding the unique conflict culture of our organizations.
Participants will learn strategies to manage conflict proactively, navigate real-time disputes, and address post-conflict situations constructively. Through interactive discussions and practical exercises, we will delve into values-based decision-making, role clarity, and strategic approaches that can help leaders effectively manage conflicts at any stage.
Facilitator: Dawn Osborne-Adams, J.D.
University Ombuds and Director of the Ombuds Office at University of North Carolina at
Chapel Hill
This session delves into the multifaceted role of middle managers in higher education. Participants will explore the critical responsibilities inherent to these positions for both faculty and staff, and will learn how understanding generational differences can enhance leadership effectiveness.
The program will provide actionable strategies for motivating staff and faculty, managing performance, and conducting meaningful annual reviews. Through a blend of best practices and practical tips, attendees will learn to navigate the challenges of leading from the organizational “middle” to foster a culture of high performance and job satisfaction.
This session will equip middle managers with the knowledge and tools necessary to lead effectively in the complex environment of higher education.
Facilitator: Kathy Rogers, J.D.
Former Legal Counsel at Simmons University
This session aims to empower middle managers with the knowledge and tools necessary to navigate their roles effectively, fostering a better understanding of their legal, ethical, and managerial responsibilities. In this session, participants will unravel the significant distinctions between policies, protocols, and practices, and their implications for mid-level leaders in an academic setting. The workshop will clarify common misconceptions around FERPA (Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act) and will differentiate between bullying, harassment, and retaliation.
Additionally, the discussion will cover the nuances between free speech and academic freedom and why understanding the distinctions between the two is crucial for effective leadership in a higher education setting. The program will also offer strategies for wise decision-making and effective communication, emphasizing the complex dynamics of leading when you report to higher authorities. Practical advice on when and how to consult with legal counsel will be integrated to enhance decision-making skills.
Facilitator: Kathy Rogers, J.D.
Former Legal Counsel at Simmons University
Join us for an engaging panel discussion featuring three seasoned leaders who have served in mid-level leadership roles, and represent diverse career paths within higher education. Prior to the session, participants will submit questions that will shape a dynamic moderated Q&A, focusing on real-world experiences, successes, and challenges faced by mid-level leaders in academia. The panelists will share personal anecdotes and practical tools they’ve utilized in navigating their roles effectively.
Following the 50-minute panel discussion, attendees will have the opportunity to join one of three breakout rooms for a deeper, more personal interaction with the panelists. The session will conclude in the main Zoom room, where participants will reflect on their learnings and discuss actionable leadership strategies to implement in their own roles.
This session is designed to empower current and aspiring mid-level leaders with actionable knowledge and strategies to enhance their leadership effectiveness in higher education.
Panelist: María del Carmen Salazar, Ph.D.
Associate Dean for Faculty Affairs and DEIJA and Professor of Curriculum & Instruction and Teacher Education in the Morgridge College of Education at the University of Denver
Panelist: Dorine Lawrence-Hughes, Ed.D, J.D.
Moderator: Shannon B. Lundeen, Ph.D.
Vice President for Programs and Operations, HERS
Panelist: TBA
Leaders who are new to administrative roles with supervisory or management responsibilities in higher education. Ideal participants are seeking to build key skills as effective leaders and managers, and gain guidance and clarity on leading with influence and confidence.
This program is intended for directors, assistant/associate directors, department chairs, assistant/associate chairs, assistant/associate deans, assistant/associate VPs, or other faculty and staff leaders with supervisory responsibilities.
Success in one’s first few administrative roles can set the stage for a long and successful career in higher education leadership. Those who feel unprepared or out-of-their-depth may not pursue senior leadership roles later in their career, which shrinks the pipeline of women and gender-diverse leaders overall. Early successes on the other hand equip leaders with the confidence to do more as well as stronger resumes or CVs for when they apply to senior-level positions. As these leaders advance their careers and bring equity to higher education, they can continue to use the skills and knowledge from this program to transform their institutions and the students they serve.
As one of our partners, you can be a leader behind much-needed change in the educational sector. Support for our programs drives leadership equity, enabling institutions to better support an increasingly diverse student body and better prepare their students to create a more equitable society.