Having served for at least three or more years, chief academic officers usually have mastered the fundamentals of the role. At this stage, CAOs discover greater opportunities to lead rather than simply manage. What are the key questions CAOs can and should address at this stage in their careers? For example, how do CAOs balance attention to their institutions’ immediate issues with a focus on their long-term academic needs? How can CAOs attend to their own professional lives while also serving their institutions? How do CAOs work effectively with the president and other cabinet officers on strategic planning? Participants will explore these and related questions and gain fresh perspective on the next stage of their careers as CAOs.
Workshops require pre-registration as space is limited. The registration fee covers materials, meals, and refreshments. To add a workshop to an existing Institute registration, please contact conferences@cic.edu. Fee: $190
Workshop Coordinators
Lauren Bowen
Provost, Juniata College (PA)
Lauren Bowen, provost and professor of politics at Juniata College (PA) since 2014, served the college as acting president during the Spring 2024 semester. As provost, she has been instrumental in the renovation of the academic library and led a comprehensive revision of general education and graduation requirements to emphasize local and global engagement, ethical discernment, and understanding how knowledge is created and valued. Bowen also has worked collaboratively with the Juniata faculty to design and implement new programs and majors. Under her leadership, the college has received research and program grants from the National Endowment for the Humanities and foundations including the National Science Foundation, the Sherman Fairchild Foundation, and the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. Bowen came to Juniata from John Carroll University (OH), where she served as associate academic vice president for student learning initiatives and diversity. In 2000, she was an American Council on Education fellow at the College of Wooster (OH). Bowen’s research interests have focused on judicial decision making and implementation, legislative-judicial interaction at the state level, and affirmative action issues.
Sarah Ferguson
Vice President for Academic Affairs, Texas Lutheran University
Sarah Ferguson is the vice president for academic affairs at Texas Lutheran University. In this role, she leads the academic endeavors of the university, including all academic programs, the library, the registrar, and the Office of Institutional Research and Effectiveness. She also works closely with faculty, program directors, and department chairs to implement Texas Lutheran’s strategic initiatives. Ferguson served as Bachelor of Social Work department chair for seven years at the University of St. Thomas (MN) and St. Catherine University (MN)’s School of Social Work and as the associate vice president and dean of faculty at Saint Mary’s University of Minnesota. Over the years, she has provided trainings on clinical supervision, cultural humility in supervision, organizational culture, leadership, and macro-practice social work. Ferguson is a frequent presenter at the CIC Department and Division Chair Workshops. Her scholarly interests include nonprofit management and leadership, supervision, macro-practice social work, and organizational systems.
Workshop Facilitators
- Jeffery Frick, Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of the College, Washington and Jefferson College (PA)
- Peter Holbrook, Provost and Chief Operating Officer, Tiffin University (OH)
- Debora Johnson-Ross, Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of the Faculty, Wartburg College (IA)
- Leanne Neilson, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs , California Lutheran University
Workshop Schedule
7:15–8:00 a.m.
Breakfast
8:00–8:10 a.m.
Welcome
Christoph Kunkel, CIC Senior Vice President and Chief of Staff, CIC
8:10–8:20 a.m.
Introductions
8:20–9:00 a.m.
Higher Education Today: Keeping up, Navigating the Challenges
Lauren Bowen and Sarah Ferguson
9:00–10:00 a.m.
Managing Down, Across, and Up: Working Across Multiple and Complex Systems
Sarah Ferguson
10:00–10:15 a.m.
Break
10:15–11:30 a.m.
Vision, Program Portfolios, and Strategy: Managing Change
Sarah Ferguson
11:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m.
Lunch
12:30–1:30 p.m.
Organizational Culture and Leadership: Lessons from the Field
Lauren Bowen
1:30–1:45 p.m.
Break
1:45–2:45 p.m.
How Do We Instill Hope—And Not Just Optimism—In Our Teams and Ourselves in the Midst of Such Turbulent Times?
Lauren Bowen and Sarah Ferguson
2:45–3:00 p.m.
What Next? Identifying Action Items for You and Your Institution
A wrap-up discussion with all participants and facilitators around pressing issues.
3:00 p.m.
Adjournment