8 Faculty Selected for the WICHE Academy for Leaders in the Humanities

BOULDER, Colo. – Eight humanities faculty from postsecondary institutions in the Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education (WICHE) region have been selected as fellows for the WICHE Academy for Leaders in the Humanities.

The program focuses on three key competencies: career planning and development, project management, and organizational design and agility. Fellows will work with higher education presidents, provosts, deans, and other experts over two academic years as they expand their management, communications, and leadership skills.

The 2024-2026 fellows are:

• Anna Nogar (University of New Mexico)
• Takami Nieda (Seattle Central College)
• Ray Black (Colorado State University)
• Carole Woodall (University of Colorado Colorado Springs)
• Keith Claybrook, Jr. (California State University, Long Beach)
• Eric Kupers (California State University East Bay)
• Christopher Moreman (California State University East Bay)
• Stephanie Bauer (University of Alaska Anchorage)

The WICHE Academy for Leaders in the Humanities, now in its final year, was funded by a generous $1.5 million grant from the Mellon Foundation. In addition to empowering humanities faculty, who teach and conduct research in fields such as English, history, communication, languages, philosophy, religious studies, gender and cultural studies, art, music, and theater, the program combines mentorship with leadership theory and practice.

Each fellow will assume an administrative role at their university or college and work with mentors both within and outside of their institution to complete an impactful project that advances an institutional priority. The cohort will also attend a professional development seminar this summer at WICHE’s office in Boulder, Colorado, and receive ongoing professional development.

The program addresses the demand for greater representation in senior-level roles from a variety of disciplines in higher education, said Camelia Naranjo, interim assistant director of academic partnerships, learning and development, in WICHE’s Programs and Services unit.

“The 2023-2025 cohort of WICHE fellows have seen so much growth in their careers in a short amount of time, including one who is overseeing the construction of a new humanities center on their campus, and others who have applied for and been hired as deans and department chairs,” Naranjo said. “I look forward to seeing what more can be accomplished for humanities departments across the WICHE region in the upcoming year.”