Faculty Advancement Network
Advancing diversity & inclusion in the American professoriate

Institute on Inquiry, Equity and Leadership in the Academic Department

Institute on Inquiry, Equity, and Leadership in the Academic Department

What is the Institute?

  • The Institute is yearlong program for Ivy+ Provost Leadership Fellows selected from the most competitive research universities in the United States. 

  • Fellows meet virtually and in-person to interrogate how systems shape the academic profession and to understand the difference faculty can make in reshaping it.

  • The program is designed to help faculty leaders in the work they are already doing as chairs, heads, and in similar academic leadership roles.

  • In addition to taking local action, Fellows conclude by designing and proposing multi-university, equity-minded initiatives to a panel of subject matter experts. These capstones become shovel-ready projects for local or foundation support—or for Fellows to advance on their own.

  • Fellows will leave with new tools of leadership, like-minded partners, and support from the highest levels for leading changes demonstrated to advance a more inclusive excellence in their units.

  • Scaling impact, FAN universities deploy the Institute’s videos, workbooks, and other best-in-class resources for their faculty diversity and development programs.

What is the schedule?

  • Fellows meet their “crews,” critically reflect, and establish expectations for the “inquiries” to come. [September 28-30 @ Columbia University]

  • Fellows explore the “discretionary spaces” where faculty have the greatest impact on — or against — equity in their departments. [Four virtual workshops, typically a Friday afternoon every 4 to 6 weeks]

  • Fellows consolidate the year’s learning into proposals for shovel-ready systemic change initiatives. [April 11-13 @ University of Pennsylvania]

What is an “inquiry”?

In the vernacular of the FAN Institute, “inquiries” tackle discretionary spaces where just one faculty member can make an outsized impact on equity. Participants in an inquiry engage scholarship (What is happening out there?), evidence (What is happening in my department?), and practice (What can I do from my current position?).

Each Institute inquiry has three parts:

  1. A “masterclass”-style video introduction to the module by a nationally-acclaimed expert [~25 minutes]

  2. An interactive working session—some in person, some virtual—led by the expert [3 hours]

  3. A debrief with campus colleagues and/or a cross-consortium “crew” [20-60 minutes]

SERVICE & WORKLOADS

KerryAnn O’Meara, Ph.D.
Incoming Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost
Teachers College, Columbia University

SEARCHES & HIRING

Damani White-Lewis, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
University of Pennsylvania

MENTORSHIP

Kimberly A. Griffin, Ph.D.
Dean, College of Education and Professor
University of Maryland

GRADUATE EDUCATION

Julie Posselt, Ph.D.
Associate Professor and Associate Dean
University of Southern California

CULTURE & CLIMATE

Sharon Fries-Britt, Ph.D.
Professor of Higher Education
University of Maryland

excellence, merit & peer review

Abigail Stewart, Ph.D.
Sandra Schwartz Tangri Distinguished University Professor of Psychology and Women's and Gender Studies
University of Michigan

How do I learn more?

If you are a prospective Fellow, contact your FAN Steering Committee representative to learn more about the Institute on Inquiry, Equity, and Leadership in the Academic Department. If you are a prospective Inquiry leader or you are an outside organization looking to learn more about this initiative, contact FAN’s Executive Director.