Chief academic officers who have served for fewer than two years are invited to participate in this workshop, led by experienced colleagues, that addresses issues that newer CAOs often face. Participants will work in small groups, analyze case studies, and discuss topics such as accreditation; assessment and institutional effectiveness; faculty governance and leadership; appointments, promotions, and tenure and its alternatives; managing time, technology, and paper; and working with peer administrators. Participants will be paired with an experienced CAO mentor.
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: $170
Workshop Coordinators
Gerald Griffin
Provost, Hope College (MI)
Gerald Griffin is provost at Hope College (MI). Griffin joined the Hope faculty in 2015 as a member of both the departments of biology and psychology. Prior to his current appointment, he served as neuroscience program director, associate provost, and interim provost. Griffin is an accomplished scholar whose research interests primarily focus on the reciprocal interactions between viruses and the nervous system. In 2019, he was named an Emerging Scholar by Diverse: Issues in Higher Education and also was the recipient of Hope’s Janet L. Anderson Excellence in Teaching Award. Griffin and his team of Hope student researchers received the college’s 2016 Social Sciences Young Investigator Award for their work with the bacterium Salmonella enterica.
Catharine O’Connell
Provost and Dean of the College, Illinois College
Catharine E. O’Connell has served as provost at Illinois College since 2016. She previously served as chief academic officer at two other institutions: Mary Baldwin College (now University) (VA) and Defiance College (OH). Prior to those roles, she held the positions of dean for academic affairs at Cabrini College (PA) and faculty member at St. John Fisher College (NY). O’Connell has been a frequent presenter at regional and national meetings on such topics as higher education leadership, global learning and citizenship, and community-based research.
Workshop Facilitators
- Graciela Caneiro-Livingston, Provost, Nebraska Wesleyan University
- Kristin Flora, Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of the College, Franklin College (IN)
- Jeffrey Frick, Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of the College, Washington and Jefferson College (PA)
- Debora Johnson-Ross, Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of the Faculty, Wartburg College (IA)
- Robert Murray, Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs, St. Thomas Aquinas College (NY)
- Tracy Parkinson, Executive Vice President and Provost, Mars Hill University (NC)
- Monique Taylor, Provost and Chief Academic Officer, Champlain College (VT)
Workshop Schedule
7:15 a.m.
Breakfast
8:00–8:05 a.m.
Welcome
Titi Ufomata, Senior Vice President for Academic Programs, CIC
8:05–8:45 a.m.
Introductions, Meeting the Facilitators, and Goal-Setting for the Workshop
8:45–9:45 a.m.
Building Relationships and Managing the Roles of the CAO
Catharine O’Connell and Gerald Griffin
9:45–10:00 a.m.
Reflection and Break
10:00–10:45 a.m.
Presidential Expectations and Hopes for the CAO
Robin Baker, President, George Fox University (OR)
10:45 a.m.–Noon
Case Studies
Noon–1:00 p.m.
Galleria South
Reflection and Lunch
1:00–1:10 p.m.
Afternoon Welcome
Marjorie Hass, President, CIC
1:10–2:50 p.m.
Roundtable Discussions
Participants will cycle through each broad topic in discussion groups led by facilitators. Areas for particular focus (below) will be determined by each group.
The CAO’s Role in:
- Leading and Managing Change (curricular, structural, demographic, cultural, political, etc.)
- Leading and Building the Faculty (recruitment, mentoring, evaluation, shared governance, renewal, etc.)
- Leading and Advancing Institutional Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging (faculty, students, staff, larger community, etc.)
2:50–3:00 p.m.
Break
3:00–3:45 p.m.
Lessons Learned and Action Steps upon Return to Campus
3:45–4:00 p.m.
Meet Your Mentor
Elisabeth Mermann-Jozwiak, Provost, Whitman College (WA)
4:00 p.m.
Workshop for New Chief Academic Officers Adjourns