WMUx
Western Michigan University
Kalamazoo MI 49008-5230 USA
(269) 387-4200
Academic Leadership Academy
The strength of any organization can be measured by its commitment to encouraging their members to become leaders at every level. With this in mind, the Office of Faculty Development invites all highly engaged, self-motivated, full-time board-appointed faculty, and administrative or professional staff members who are ready to transform into well-rounded leaders to apply for the Academic Leadership Academy.
Since 2008, participants of the Academic Leadership Academy have gained a deeper understanding of themselves and the systems that underpin the University as a whole, walking away with the crucial leadership skills needed to help propel our campus and our community into the future.
Designed with the changing landscape of higher education in mind, the Academic Leadership Academy leverages both practical and experiential approaches that empower participants to:
- Confidently lead groups or organizations at WMU or elsewhere.
- Contribute new perspectives as part of teams in which they are not the designated leader.
- Better understand the cultural context of our University and other institutions.
- Identify and prioritize challenges and opportunities in realms such as academic, research, economic development, and social justice.
- Locate and utilize leadership resources and translate that information into practical application.
The Academic Leadership Academy is a year-long commitment, and those who fully complete the program will qualify for a $300 professional development fund stipend.
The application period for the 2024-2025 Academic Leadership Academy has ended. If you would like to learn more, please feel free to contact Christopher Sligh or Ramona Lewis.
Program Participants
View the bios of our current year’s participants:
- Elissa Allen, Associate Professor and Graduate Programs Coordinator, Bronson School of Nursing
- Mike Berdowski, Sr. Assistant Director of Operations and Member Services, University Recreation
- Jessica Birnbaum, Master Faculty Specialist, College of Aviation
- Monique Haley, Associate Professor of Dance and African American and African Studies, Department of Dance (CFA), and Jointly Appointed in the Department of African American and African Studies (IIAS)
- Lisa Johnson, Assoc Dir Advancement Services: Data Architecture and Strategy, Advancement Services/University Advancement
- Stephen Kaczmarek, Associate Professor, Geological and Environmental Sciences
- Lynete Lusike Mukhongo, Associate Professor, School of Communication
- Eric McConnell, University Ombuds, Office of the President
- Andrea Mellendorf, Assistant Director for the WMU Apartments,Housing and Residence Life - Division of Student Affairs
- Spencer Myers, Student Success Advisor, CEHD
- Mark Peter Broeckel, Business Intelligence Analyst/Sr. Systems Specialist, Sindecuse Health Center
- Trisha Priest, HR Business Partner, Human Resources
- Colleen Stano, Director of Academic Advising,Haworth College of Business Academic Advising Office
- Yu-Lien The, Associate Professor of Keyboard Studies, School of Music/College of Fine Arts
- Marian Tripplett, Faculty Specialist II, School of Social Work, College of Health and Human Services
- Zeljka Vidic, Associate Professor/Program Coordinator M.A. Sports Coaching and Undergraduate Sports Coaching Minor, Human Development
- Kimmy Beuechler, Director, Early College Programs, WMUx
- Geralyn Heystek, Director of the Zhang Career Center, Hayworth College of Business
- Alyssa Moon, Associate Director, Instructional Design & Development, WMUx
- Leah Omilion-Hodges, Associate Professor, School of Communication
- Joanne Roehm, Senior Director, Strategy and Operations, WMUx
- Brian Smith, Administrative Assistant II, Haworth College of Business
- German Zarate-Sandez, Associate Professor, Department of Spanish
- Lauren Carney, Director, Kalamazoo Promise Scholars Program
- Sue Ellen Christian, Professor, Communication
- Glen R. Dillon, Assistant Director, Student Media
- Danielle Field, Program Manager, Student Professional Readiness Series (SPuRS)
- Maria Gigante, Associate Professor, English
- Annette Hamel, Faculty Specialist II, Communication
- Jennifer Klauth, Manager, Recruitment and Outreach, Social Work
- Ilana Nash, Associate Professor, Gender and Women's Studies
- Tyler Payne, Project Manager, OIT
- Sarah Pratt, Associate Director, Research and Sponsored Programs, OVPR
- Onur Arugaslan - Professor, Finance and Commerce Law
- Gwen A. Bostic - Coordinator, Faculty Technology Center
- Jon Collier - Assistant Director of Information Technology, Haenicke Institute for Global Education
- Sarah Good -Counseling Specialist II, Sindecuse Health Center, Counseling Services
- Laura Large - Executive Assistant, Haenicke Institute for Global Education
- David Longjohn - System Specialist Sr., Unified Clinics & Center for Disability Services
- Susan V. Piazza - Professor, Department of Special Education & Literacy Studies
- Peter Poggione - Senior Director, IT, Student Affairs
- Stephanie Radant - Business Manager Associate, College of Arts and Sciences
- Glinda Rawls - Associate Professor, Counselor Education and Counseling Psychology
- Daniela Schroeter - Assistant Professor, School of Public Administration
- Barbara Stevens - Instructional Designer, Extended University Programs
- Cody Williams - Research Assistant Professor, Director of Science & Mathematics Program Improvement
- Wayne Lee Bond II - Career Development Specialist, Career and Student Employment Services
- Heidi Douglas-Vogley - Master Faculty Specialist, Speech-Language-Hearing Sciences
- Brian Gogan - Associate Professor, English
- Jennifer Harrison - Assistant Professor, School of Social Work
- Chris Hunt - Director of Marketing Communications, University Relations
- Ramona Lewis - Faculty Specialist II, Educational Leadership, Research and Technology
- Dave Paul - Instructor and Director of Undergraduate Studies, Department of Philosophy
- Julia Primavera Kuntz - Engagement Manager, Development and Alumni Relations
- Scott "Scooter" Russell - Director of IT Services, University Libraries
- Lori Wingate - Director of Research, Evaluation Center
- Missy Bininger - Manager, Help Desk and Directory Services
- Marianne Di Pierro - Director, Graduate Center for Research and Retention
- Kristal Ehrhardt - Professor, Special Education Program
- Melissa Holman - Student Success Manager, CEHD
- Yvette Hyter - Professor, Speech-Language Pathology
- Staci Perryman-Clark - Associate Professor, English
- Sarah Summy - Associate Professor, Special Education Program
- Joe VanDerBos - Senior Marketing Specialist,Sindecuse
- Margaret Von Steinen - Executive Assistant Senior, Government Affairs & University Relations
- Brad Watts - Assistant Director, Evaluation Center
- Adriana Cardosa Reyes — CAMP
- Brian Dubrish — Facilities, Student Affairs
- Marilyn Kritzman — School of Communications
- Kathy Purnel — OVPR
- Udaya Raj Wagle — School of Public Administration
- Patrick Williams — OIT
- Kristina Wirtz — Anthropology
- Jeremy Ynclan — Residence Life & Student Conduct
- Julie Apker — School of Communication
- Madeleine Lakatos Fojtik — Student Affairs Marketing
- Adrienne Fraaza — First Year Experience
- Tara R. Gish — Extended University Programs
- Anthony P. Helms — Lee Honors College
- Michael Hodgkinson — Facilities Management
- Brian Horvitz — Educational Leadership, Research and Technology
- Carrie Leatherman — University Libraries
- Christine Moser — Economics
- Kim Nelson — Office of University Relations
- Heather Petcovic — Geosciences and Mallinson Institute for Science Education
- Tiffany B. White — Office of Diversity and Inclusion
- Christie A. Gates — Center for English Language and Culture for International Students
- Edward Eckel — University Libraries
- Charles Henderson — Physics
- Sarah Hurd — Student Activities and Leadership Programs
- Jason Jach — Office of Institutional Research
- Adam Newsted — Office of Information Technology
- Roshona Porter — Residence Life Office
- David Rudge — Biological Sciences
- Gwen Tarbox — English
- Bruce Bejcek - Biological Sciences
- Diana Berkshire Hearit - Office of the Vice President for Research
- Christine Browning - Mathematics
- William Charland - Frostic School of Art
- Lonnie Duncan - Counselor Education and Counseling Psychology
- David Huffman - Chemistry
- Shashanta James - Student Financial Aid and Scholarships
- Andrew Kline - Paper and Chemical Engineering and Imaging
- Thomas Lynema - Office of Information Technology
- Tracy Pattok - Office of Institutional Research
- Diana Vreeland - Career English Language Culture for International Students
- Joe Wilson - Extended University Programs- Grand Rapids
- Cathleen Fuller - Haenicke Institute for Global Education
- Michele Behr - University Libraries
- Robert Anemone - Anthropology
- Kate Bates - Student Activities and Leadership Programs
- Fawn Callen - Office of Information Technology
- Scott Garrison - University Libraries
- Melinda Lockett - College of Health and Human Services
- Sue Murray - Division of Multicultural Affairs
- Caroline Ray - Haworth College of Business
- Renee Schwartz - Biological Sciences
- Christopher Sell - Career & Student Employment Services
- Rebecca Solomon - Haenicke Institute for Global Education
- Stephen Tasko - Speech Pathology and Audiology
- Jodi Ward - Admissions
- Janet Hahn - College of Health and Human Services
- Jeanine Bartholomew - College of Health and Human Services
- Maira Bundza - Libraries
- Amy Curtis - Interdisciplinary Health
- Tycho Fredericks - Industrial and Mechanical Engineering
- Shari Glaser - Parent and Family Programs
- Joe Kayany - Communication
- Maleeka Love - First Year Experience Programs
- Stan Pelkey - Music
- Amy Routhier - Extended University Program
- Amy Tuley - School of Social Work
- Lynnae Stankus - Student Activities and Leadership Program
- Gary H. Bischof - Counselor Education & Counseling Psychology
- Steven E. Butt - Industrial & Manufacturing Engineering
- Betty D. Dennis - Extended University Programs
- Jan M. Gabel-Goes - Business Information Systems
- Kevin Knutson - Arts & Sciences Advising
- Debra Lindstrom-Hazel - Occupational Therapy
- Gail Y. Rouscher - College of Aviation
- Helen M. Sharp - Speech Pathology & Audiology
- Chris E. Sligh - Student Activities & Leadership Programs
- Toni Y. Woolfork-Barnes - First Year Experience Program
- Suzan F. Ayers - Health, Physical Education & Recreation
- Allison Baer - Special Education & Literacy Studies
- Elizabeth Bradburn - English
- Barbara Cockrell - University Libraries
- Marcia Fetters - Teaching, Learning & Education Studies
- Terrell Hodge - Mathematics
- Karlis Kaugars - Computer Science
- Stephen B. Malcolm - Biological Sciences
- Linda Reeser - School Social Work
- Nancy M. Schullery - Business Information Systems
- Susan Weinger - School of Social Work
- Evelyn Winfield - University Counseling & Testing Center