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Helping Faculty Members New to Leadership Roles

Stepping into a leadership role in a school, a center, or an institute can be daunting.  Little in the faculty career of teaching, scholarship, and service prepares a faculty member to lead or to negotiate the complexities of a large research university.

The goal of the FADP is to provide faculty leaders early in their tenure with the tools to succeed in their new position. The FADP strengthens their network of support and contacts across UNC, orients them to campus administrative systems, and helps them develop as leaders. The ideal candidate for this program is a Carolina faculty member who has recently taken on, or has agreed to take on, a major administrative position that involves responsibility for personnel, budgeting, leadership, or other core administrative functions. This includes, but is not limited to, center and institute directors, associate deans, program leaders, and department and division chairs.


The FADP features 11 interactive luncheon sessions throughout the academic year.  Each session lasts from noon to 1:45 p.m.

The program introduces participants to these important campus systems:

  • Diversity and Multicultural Affairs
  • Human Resources
  • Legal Affairs
  • Information Technology
  • Finance and Administration
  • Ombuds Office
  • Outreach (alumni, communications, development, governmental affairs)

These sessions introduce participants to these offices, identify the key responsibilities participants have in each area, help participants understand how best to discharge those responsibilities, and let participants know who to call for help when needed.

The seven sessions about administrative topics are interspersed with two engaging sessions about general leadership skills. The program starts with a kick-off session and ends with a session of reflection and evaluation.