Since starting my role as director of the Office of Faculty Professional Development at my institution three years ago, I’ve had the pleasure of attending the opening session for our faculty Emerging Leaders Program (ELP) each year. Led by a former campus dean, ELP is designed as a collaboration between the Office of the Provost, the Office of the Executive Vice President for Research, the Institute for Leadership and Social Impact, and the Office of the Vice Provost for Faculty. Over the course of eight months, faculty participants take part in half-day workshops, leadership journey conversations with current campus leaders, small-group work, and coaching to contribute to their development as self-aware future leaders. In its ninth year, the program is open to both academic and research faculty with the goal of providing leadership development at mid-career.
Beyond Programs: Leadership Lessons from Ireland’s Inclusive Universities
During a recent sabbatical studying inclusive postsecondary education in Ireland, I visited four universities—University College Cork, Trinity College Dublin, Dún Laoghaire Institute of Art, Design and Technology, and Mary Immaculate
Ashley Rodrigues
July 20, 2026
