AUM Leadership Academy graduates third class, gearing up to start fourth

The 20 members of the third class of the Auburn Montgomery Leadership Academy graduated on Friday during a luncheon held in their honor at the Capital City Club downtown. The graduates’ class projects were presented, and graduates and academy alumni heard from keynote speaker Dr. Joe King, AUM Provost.

The 2012 AUM Leadership Academy graduates are:

• Dr. Gene Akers, Senior Director, Center for Advanced Technologies
• Kelly Birchfield, Associate Director, Office of Institutional Effectiveness
• Cindy Forehand, Senior Consultant-Lead, Center for Business and Economic Development
• Dr. Venessa Funches, Department Head and Assistant Professor, Marketing
• Iyisha Hampton, Associate Director, Housing and Residence Life
• Angela Hand, Associate Director, Financial Aid
• Barbara Hightower, Librarian III, Library
• Ramona Hurston, Director, Alabama Positive Behavior Support Center
• Dr. Ralph Ioimo, Department Head and Associate Professor, Justice and Public Safety
• Dr. Pamela Long, Director and Associate Professor, International Studies
• Martie McEnerney, Senior Development Officer, Office of Advancement
• Dr. Lynne Mills, Department Head and Professor, Early Childhood, Elementary and Reading Education
• Dr. Evan Moore, Associate Dean of Graduate Programs and Associate Professor, Economics and Finance
• Donnie Nobles, Director, Honors Program, and Associate Professor, Communications and Dramatic Arts
• Carolyn Rawl, Assistant CIO, Information Technology Services
• Dr. Glen Ray, Chair and Professor, Psychology
• Dorsey Smith, Senior Director, Facilities
• Carol Stewart, Director, Student Health Services
• Dr. Jacques Verville, Department Head and Associate Professor, Information Systems and Decision Sciences
• Louis Thornton, Director, Wellness Center

The academy was implemented to develop a renewed sense of vigor and excellence in faculty and staff who serve in program management and/or supervisory positions. King shared  how the graduates (some who have been at AUM for many years and some who are more recent members of the AUM family) could utilize knowledge gained in the AUM  Leadership Academy to have the greatest impact on AUM and also discussed how their involvement will move our vision forward.

The graduates’ class projects covered topics from AUM’s identity to service learning to retention:

• Retention Components and Practices Regarding Attendance and Intervention
• Explore various retention components and practices related to attendance and intervention. What strategies should AUM consider implementing?
• Advisory Leaders: Tyler Peterson and Lisa Kerr
• Project Team Members: Angela Hand, Glen Ray, Venessa Funches, Ralph Ioimo

• Best Practices/Models for Building the 21st Century Campus
• Study best practices/models of campuses recognized as a 21st century campus.  Examine how to enhance student services to support academic success and enrich student life, how to develop environmental, human and ecological sustainability as a signature initiative and how to best respond to the change in learning options (e.g., virtual learning, Web 2.0 tools, pervasive technology, student mobility, etc.). 
• Propose a 21st century campus model for Auburn University at Montgomery.
• Advisory Leaders: Wanda Meadows and Jennifer Brown
• Project Team Members: Carolyn Rawl, Barbara Hightower, Dorsey Smith, Louis Thornton

• AUM’s Identity: What Is the Perception and How Does It Need to Change?
• Each university seeks to be known for a certain quality.  For example, some desire to be known for small classes, friendly faculty, sports or an active student body.  Define the identity of universities/colleges in close proximity to AUM, such as Faulkner University, Alabama State University, Huntingdon College and Troy University Montgomery. Explore the image that AUM needs to develop and opportunities to change that image. 
• How should we market AUM? What is the identity we should seek?
• Advisory Leader: Rhea Ingram
• Project Team Members:  Martie McEnerney, Evan Moore, Carol Stewart, Mona Hurston

• Approach to AUM Community Service and Involvement (Faculty and Staff Only)
• Study models for community service and involvement in higher education. AUM faculty and staff are involved in the community and serve in a variety of capacities. Determine if there are opportunities that could be leveraged for the consolidation of efforts. Research and detail the types of activities being conducted around campus to get some baseline data. Determine ways that collaboration can occur so that efforts can be more impactful and can bring about maximum benefits to AUM. 
• Advisory Leaders: Katherine Jackson and Carolyn Golden
• Project Team Members: Donnie Nobles, Kelly Birchfield, Cindy Forehand, Lynne Mills

• Service Learning in Higher Education (For Students as Part of the Curriculum)
• Study successful models for Service Learning in higher education. Research should document data from universities practicing Service Learning. Propose a campus-wide model for AUM. 
• Advisory Leaders: Matthew Duke and Jan Lyn
• Project Team Members: Jacques Verville, Iyisha Hampton, Pam Long, Gene Akers

Nicole Pinkham Senior Training Consultant Alabama Training Institute

As one class moves on to move AUM forward, the academy and Director Nicole Pinkham, Senior Training Consultant with the Alabama Training Institute, are already preparing for the next class.

"As the AUM Leadership Academy Director, I am excited about the 2013 AUM Leadership Academy class," Pinkham said. "There are 22 extremely talented faculty and staff that have been selected to attend the Academy. The kick-off luncheon will be on Jan. 11, 2013."

The 2012 class projects will be available soon for viewing at www.ati.aum.edu.

Dec. 3, 2012