When & Where
When
Fall 2024 & Spring 2025
Where
Online
application deadline
Friday, August 23, 2024 at 11:59pm ET
The FRN Leadership Initiative prepares emerging leaders to transform their own campuses by getting them to recognize opportunities to lead up, down, and sideways. This program also builds community across the FRN for continuing leaders who want to facilitate change and maximize collaboration within and between institutions. Ultimately, the goal of this program is to contribute to the transformation of the higher education ecosystem.
For our fourth year, we will accept one cohort of up to 18 participants. The duration of the entire virtual program will be held over two semesters, Fall 2023 and Spring 2024 (six sessions in the fall and six sessions in the spring).
All dates will be on Fridays from 9:00 to 10:30am ET (NYC time).
Programs
All sessions will be on Fridays from 9:00 to 10:30am ET (NYC time).
Fall 2024
In our program kick-off, we will get to know one another, our current positions, our role’s history and legacy, and our institutions/units. We will also collectively agree upon our community agreements.
We will also discuss:
- What are the actions and characteristics of the best or worst leader you’ve worked with? What were their core values and actions?
- I was at my best when … My leadership struggled when … over the last academic year as a leader
- Overcoming resistance
- What are the essential values and actions of a successful leader if you were to build the perfect leader?
In this self leadership session, we will share:
- Our definitions of leadership
- Our personal leadership development plans
- Asking for help and self-care
In this self leadership session, we will discuss:
- The art of saying no
- Tiago Forte’s PARA & David Allen’s GTD methodologies; Personal Kanban
- Cal Newport’s Slow Productivity and Deep Focus
In this interpersonal leadership session, we will discuss:
- Hierarchy, ability, appeasement, and imposter syndrome
- Setting boundaries and non-promotable tasks
- The Myers-Briggs® Type Instrument (MBTI) process (Taking the MBTI will be totally voluntary)
In this interpersonal leadership session, we will discuss:
- Trust, transparency, and psychological safety
- Building relationships with internal and external stakeholders
- Communities of practice and shared governance
- Navigating promotion
In this interpersonal leadership session, we will have a guest leader discuss:
- Diversity: a conundrum and opportunity
- Strategies and tactics for recruiting to increase diversity and inclusive excellence (STRIDE)
- Inclusive leadership in practice
Spring 2025
In this interpersonal leadership session, we will discuss:
- An overview of the Style Matters Kraybill Conflict Style Inventory (Taking Style Matters will be totally voluntary.)
- The seven principles of fierce conversations
- Managing conflict
In this team leadership session, we will discuss:
- Giving and receiving feedback
- Strategies for productive dialogues
- Accountability ladder
In this systems leadership session, we will have a guest leader discuss:
- Characteristics of high-performance teams
- Facilitating better meetings
- Team charters
In this systems leadership session, we will discuss:
- Data-supported decision making
- The art of a communications plan
- Crisis communication
In this systems leadership session, we will interview a guest leader to discuss:
- Their definition of leadership
- Their leadership journey
- Leading change, in particular
For our final session, you will share a letter to your future self of what you’d like to accomplish in your leadership journey over the next academic year. You can choose to reflect on the following topics or any other subject of your choice:
- Create your 12-month roadmap in a leadership area of your choice
- Reflect on stretch goals for your institution/unit that can be accomplished in 1–3 years
- Identify and create your legacy for your current position
FRN Leadership Initiative Facilitator
De Angela L. Duff
Associate Vice Provost, NYU, and Industry Professor, NYU Tandon School of Engineering
In her role as Associate Vice Provost, she works closely with Vice Provosts Clay Shirky and Charlton McIlwain, organizing and leading conferences, workshops, and gatherings in three main areas: teaching and learning with generative AI, most recently through the NYU Teaching & Learning with Generative AI Virtual Symposium (2024), leadership in higher education through the annual, yearlong FRN Leadership Initiative, and time and project management through NYU’s Early Career Faculty Institute (ECFI). She also assists with other University-wide leadership, faculty development, or technology-enhanced teaching & learning initiatives managed by the Provost’s Office. She holds an MFA in Studio Art (Photography) from the Maryland Institute College of Art (MiCA), a BFA in Graphic Design from Georgia State University, and a BS in Textiles from the Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech).
Testimonials
The FRN Leadership Initiative is just what every emerging leader needs! Low-stress, high impact, the course was a mix of academic leaders from across the nation, De Angela L. Duff’s expertise (and book recommendations!), and conversational-type dialogue among peers. I found it to be a wonderful source of information, helpful strategies to consider and incorporate into my work, and a great way to think about goal-setting and how to accomplish those goals.
Cora de Leon
2023–2024 Cohort
Clinical Associate Professor; Director of the Undergraduate Program; NYU Silver School of Social Work
I am so grateful for the FRN Leadership Initiative, our incredible cohort and the amazing speakers. De Angela L. Duff is a skilled, generous, and authentic leader. This is an invaluabe resource for anyone in higher education trying to find their voice as a leader.
Smita Rao
2023–2024 Cohort
Inaugural Robert S. Salant Endowed Associate Professor of Physical Therapy; NYU Steinhardt School of Culture, Education and Human Development
The FRN Leadership Initiative allowed me to both reflect on my path as well as plan ahead on my leadership journey. Together with my cohort, we identified common challenges and devised strategies to maximize impact, productivity and personal satisfaction both individually and in groups, while preventing burnout and stress.
Mariana Torrente
2023–2024 Cohort
Associate Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Brooklyn College
This yearlong initiative was extremely helpful preparing me to serve as a department chair and in other future leadership roles transforming the academy for the better. I was inspired by the generosity, wisdom, and empathy of everyone involved in the initiative: our coordinator, De Angela L. Duff, the guest session leaders, and my fellow cohort members. These sessions helped me feel more confident that I will be able to use my future role as a leader to empower those around me as I work to support my departments and institution.
Dan Venning
2023–2024 Cohort
Associate Professor of Theatre & English, Core Faculty in American Studies and Gender, Sexuality, & Women’s Studies; Union College
I gained so much from the resources and insights of this program. It is thoughtfully structured and delivered. It shifted my thinking and helped me to articulate what matters most to me as a leader. The fellow participants were wonderful and I look forward to maintaining these new relationships.
Sarah Donovan
2022–2023 Cohort
Professor of Philosophy, Wagner College
I often find what is discussed in all different sessions really helpful in direct ways. Many times I have either been dealing with the very topic, or I have been thinking about it for a while. And this amazement has continued to last all throughout the two semesters. I think the program is really filling the gap that people in academia in general need: a training/class on how to work in universities as leaders. I feel so much more equipped after this year at FRN. THANK YOU!
Snow Yunxue Fu
2022–2023 Cohort
Assistant Arts Professor, NYU Tisch School of the Arts
Understanding the difference between a strong leader and someone who leads with strength has been a crucial lesson for my self-awareness and development as a director in higher education. The FRN Leadership Initiative helped me to identify the ways I handle conflict in the workplace and how best to meet my individual team members where they are in their own career stage. What I learned this past year will stay with me as I continue to affect change in my own communities.
Aminda Heckman
2022–2023 Cohort
Coordinator, Rockland & Westchester Campuses, NYU Silver School of Social Work
Both emerging and seasoned leaders, and those in-between, can benefit from the FRN Leadership Initiative–an invaluable resource for developing your own practical and personal approach to the complex and often difficult situations of higher education. And for the rest of your career, you’ll be a part of an amazing cohort of thinkers and actors from a diversity of fields, backgrounds, and experiences.
Helen Hershkoff
2022–2023 Cohort
Herbert M. and Svetlana Wachtell Professor of Constitutional Law and Civil Liberties, NYU School of Law
Navigating through academic institutions is always challenging. My experience as part of the FRN Leadership Initiative has made the challenges much easier and more rewarding. The suggested strategies by the leader, De Angela L. Duff, guests, and interchanges with participants have been enlightening and, most important, useful in dealing with issues that arise as a member of my faculty, such as promotion, dealing with administration, and other faculty members in a manner that will achieve one’s goals, understanding the need to prioritize one’s energy and purpose, and the value of being a leader in your academic community.
Lynne McVeigh
2022–2023 Cohort
Associate Professor, Undergraduate Film/TV Department, NYU Tisch School of the Arts
The FRN Leadership Initiative has allowed me to reflect on my leadership skills and think about ways to enhance my leadership skills. I have learned so much from each of the speakers and I enjoyed working with my FRN colleagues. It was definitely a rewarding experience.
Kentei Takaya
2022–2023 Cohort
Clinical Professor and Director of Multilingual and Multicultural Studies/TESOL Program, NYU Shanghai
In the academy, time management, self-reflection, and refined communication skills should be a part of a growing leader’s ever-present skill set. This FRN Leadership Initiative workshop allows participants to craft their own leadership plan while honing these skills. Participants will be well rewarded if they are among those chosen to participate, to collaborate, and to improve upon their leadership skills.
Paul Wilson
2022–2023 Cohort
Professor of Religion and Philosophy, Shaw University
I really got so much out of the FRN Leadership Initiative. It helped me to understand not only my own leadership strengths and weaknesses, but how to recognize the individual strengths of each member of my department. I particularly enjoyed the Meyers-Briggs analysis and follow-up discussion with De Angela. I will miss the ability to see and speak to the other academics in the seminar and discuss our challenges and successes.
Jennifer Brown, PhD
2021–2022 Cohort
Professor of Writing, Literature, and Language Chair, Humanities & Social Sciences , Marymount Manhattan College
The course really forced me to think about the qualities of good leadership and to re-think the ways in which I interact with my colleagues at NYU and in the field of archaeology. The guest speakers were universally excellent.
Pam Crabtree, PhD
2021–2022 Cohort
Professor and Director of Undergraduate Studies Anthropology Department, Faculty of Arts and Science, New York University
The excellent FRN Leadership Initiative showed me that leadership is a state of mind. It is the ability to listen, to model, to recognize the talent in other people and to help them thrive. Above all, it is community. The cornucopia of wisdom I gleaned from my FRN colleagues has been transformational for me both at home and at work.
Jenny McPhee
2021–2022 Cohort
Academic Director and Clinical Assistant Professor Center for Applied Liberal Arts School of Professional Studies, New York University
This initiative has broadened my understanding of leadership in my personal, family, and work relationships, causing a reexamination of my reactions. I was able to evaluate my decision-making process honestly and carefully in a relaxed virtual environment with peers. Each meeting reaffirmed a new focus towards identifying strengths and areas to improve. I have learned a great deal and shared the readings with others. I will miss the meetings; the class has proven to be of great personal enrichment.
Miriam Ramírez-Muñoz, PhD
2021–2022 Cohort
Professor Department of Communication, Universidad de Puerto Rico en Humacao
The FRN Leadership Initiative provided an invaluable opportunity for me to reflect on my own experiences with leadership, while also considering what kind of leader I have been and aspire to be. It helped shape my vision for a future in leadership in academia and offered numerous resources, including a supportive community of peers, to aid in the pursuit of that goal.
Charmayne E. Patterson, PhD
2021–2022 Cohort
Director, Center for Innovative Teaching, Learning, and Engagement Associate Professor of History Department of African American Studies, Africana Women’s Studies, and History, Clark Atlanta University
The FRN Leadership Initiative helped me rethink my leadership paradigms in my roles as professor, industrial and organizational psychologist, and campus chancellor. I enjoyed very much the book club, group sessions, diagnostics tools, and coaching sessions. I highly recommend the FRN Leadership Initiative to anyone that wants to develop and improve their leadership skills.
Carlos A. Andújar Rojas, PhD
2021–2022 Cohort
Full Professor Chancellor, University of Puerto Rico at Arecibo
Since I teach in a doctoral leadership program in higher education, more than impacting the way I think about my leadership role, my participation in the FRN Leadership Initiative confirmed for me that I am on the right track in the way I currently provide facilitation and various pedagogies/strategies to support my students’ learning and growth. It was enlightening to be on the other side of the learning experience to view the way leadership development is provided. The diagnostic tools (self-assessments) and large and small group discussions were most impactful for me since these tools pushed us to self-reflect. Self-reflection leads to greater self-awareness, self-identity, learning, and growth. I’m proud to have been a member of the first cohort of the Initiative and would recommend it to faculty at any level.
Sequetta F. Sweet, EdD
2021–2022 Cohort
Assistant Professor of Organizational Leadership School of Education, Stockton University