Senior Leadership Fellows program receives American Association of State Colleges and Universities award
By Julia Duvall
Western Carolina University’s Senior Leadership Fellows program is the recipient of the 2024 American Association of State Colleges and Universities Excellence and Innovation Leadership Development and Diversity Award.
“We are thrilled to receive this award from AASCU for our Senior Leadership Fellows program and to be recognized for our commitment to ‘grow our own’ and inspire other institutions to do the same,” said WCU Chancellor Kelli R. Brown. “This professional development experience gives our dedicated faculty and staff the opportunity to prepare themselves for the challenges and opportunities that come with senior leadership roles.”
WCU was one of eight institutions that received an award in various categories out of the 350 member institutions.
Award recipients receive an engraved sculpture or a monetary contribution to a chosen campus initiative, such as an on-campus food pantry or scholarship fund.
Awards will be presented at AASCU’s Annual Conference in November in Puerto Rico.
The program at WCU welcomed its first cohort in 2022 and aims to build a diverse cohort of campus leaders that explore topics related to budgeting and funding, institutional governance and structure, crisis leadership and conflict management, institutional identity and executive leadership perspectives.
Fellows are also required to participate in the annual WCU regional leadership tour, a weeklong bus trip throughout Western North Carolina that showcases the university's commitment to its region and community outreach.
