The Office of Research and Economic Development is currently accepting applications for the 2021-2022 Faculty Leadership Program. Interested faculty members that meet eligibility criteria can submit applications through July 30.

The Faculty Leadership Program is designed for faculty who have aspirations of becoming an administrator or who simply want to improve their personal leadership skills. Many past participants have been successful and serve in key leadership positions today at MSU.

The Faculty Leadership Program includes a range of topics aimed at supporting and empowering faculty at the associate and full academic ranks on their professional journeys. The monthly virtual, and interactive sessions, will be led by Dr. Claudia and Ruben Fernandez, founding members of the Food Systems Leadership Institution (FSLI) program. FSLI has a strong reputation for preparing leaders who are able to navigate complex challenges and lead organizational change, all while honoring the mission and ethics of the enterprise itself.  Programming includes small group discussions, monthly seminars, and coaching.

While faculty are capable and competent professors and researchers, many have not had experience or training in team and leadership roles. During this virtual, informal setting, participants will learn the skills needed to successfully work with and lead groups and how to amplify their voice and effectiveness for their own work and the university. Topics to be discussed include using personality theory as a framework for success (different from the Myers Briggs personality test), leadership survey talk, understanding behavior and motivation, managing difficult conversations, managing change, negotiation, and adaptive leadership.

The program will begin this fall on September 17th with a three-hour session from 2-5 p.m. There will then be two-hour sessions on the following Fridays of each month from 2-4 p.m.:  October (15th), November (19th), January (21st), February (18th), March (25th), and April (22nd) for a total of seven sessions.

The FLP is limited to 20 faculty who will be selected from a competitive application process. Eligible faculty include those with the rank of Professor and Associate Professors who have held this rank for at least two years (since Aug. 16, 2019).

To apply, interested faculty should submit a one-page summary addressing professional aspirations that includes a commitment statement agreeing to participate in all seminars, a current abbreviated CV (3 – 5 pages max), and a one-page nomination letter from their department head that is co-signed by the appropriate associate dean for research. The nomination letter should provide insight as to why this faculty member could be successful in an administrative position and why they should be selected. Please carefully consider the time required for participation before making application. These materials should be emailed to Teresa Gammill, tgammill@research.msstate.edu, and copy Lynn Taylor, ltaylor@research.msstate.edu, no later than Friday, July 30, 2021. Selections will be made and announced prior to the start of the fall 2021 academic semester.

Questions concerning this program should be addressed to Teresa Gammill.