MAC ALDP

Over the course of the year, ALDP Fellows will:

1.  participate in a series of MAC-wide workshops including two in-person workshops (typically October and April) and four virtual webinars
2. engage in a university-level development program led by the Associate Provost
3. complete an individual leadership project and electronic portfolio

The four ALDP Fellows will meet biweekly with the Associate Provost to:

• Engage in peer mentorship to support each fellow’s leadership project
• Interview senior campus leadership
• Collectively process workshops and webinars and apply them to the UMass Amherst context
• Discuss Reframing Academic Leadership, 2^nd Edition

2026-2027 Schedule

For the 2026-2027 year, the in-person workshops are at Miami University, date TBD, and Central Michigan University, date TBD.

The four webinar dates have not yet been announced.

The biweekly ALDP Fellows meetings will be on Mondays from 2:00–4:00 p.m. in the OFD Conference Room, 1902 W.E.B. Du Bois Library.

Faculty & Librarians are invited to apply for the MAC-ADLP Fellowship. To be eligible, an individual must be a faculty member who is either tenured or on a continuing appointment or a librarian on a continuing appointment. Faculty and Librarians are expected to possess strong leadership capacities, an outstanding record of achievement in their current and past leadership positions, and an expressed interest in leadership and administrative service. 

The deadline for submitting applications is March 23. The application should be submitted through the Qualtrics application form.

Application Requirements

1. Individual’s Information (name, present position, department / school, college, campus affiliation, email)
2. A cover letter (2 pages max) that describes:
   1. Your interest in being a UMass Amherst MAC ALDP Fellow
   2. Your history of leadership and service (department / school, college, university, community, professional), including your ability to work across units or across differences
   3. Your career aspirations, including continuing in a current leadership position and/or future leadership positions on campus
   4. What you hope to gain from the program, including how you expect it to contribute to your career objectives
3. Your proposed leadership project (2 pages max)
4. Curriculum Vitae
5. The name of the leader who will provide the recommendation

Nomination

Once OFD has received your application, it will be sent to your dean, senior vice provost, or vice chancellor (based on your current role) for their recommendation. Both your application materials and the recommendation will be used to select the ALDP Fellows. Selection is done by the Provost and is coordinated by the Office of Faculty Development.

Selection Criteria

1. Demonstrated ability to work collaboratively and respectfully across units and across differences

2. Demonstrated leadership ability and experience. Current or prior positions might include:

• Significant leadership roles in the Faculty Senate or MSP
• Department Head/Chair
• Director for a Center, Institute or freestanding academic program
• Associate/Assistant Dean
• Senior Vice/Vice/Associate/Assistant Provost
• National, state, and/or local leadership in areas critical to the academy

3. Awarded tenure or continuing appointment

4. Senior Leader's recommendation

Fellows are expected to complete two primary deliverables by the end of the program: a complete individual or team project and an individual electronic portfolio.

Project

As part of the program, Fellows are expected to participate in an individual project. Projects may include (but are not limited to) designing and/or delivering institution-level leadership research, development, or networking programs. Intended project topics will be shared by liaisons prior to the first virtual session.

During select workshops or webinars, Fellows may also be given time to discuss their projects, including intent, goals, implications, and progress, with Fellows from other campuses. Fellows are expected to work independently or as a team throughout the year to complete their selected project.

Electronic Portfolio

As part of the program, Fellows are expected to create an electronic leadership portfolio that includes:

• Curriculum Vitae
• A Statement of Leadership or Career Goals
• A Statement of Leadership Philosophy
• Program Reflection
• Project Report

The success of the MAC ALDP is dependent on the Fellows' motivation and commitment to the program. Fellows are expected to actively participate in the year-long ALDP, including home institution programming, in-person workshops, and virtual webinars, by:

• Completing pre-session materials and assignments before attending workshops and webinars.
• Attending all workshops, webinars and biweekly fellows meetings professionally and fully.
• Engaging presenters and colleagues with thoughtfulness and courtesy.
• Actively participating in small and large discussion groups.
• Respecting the confidential nature of all workshop and webinar discussions.
• Completing assigned projects or activities expected by the home institution.
• Providing constructive program assessment and feedback.
• Providing up-to-date professional information after completing the ALDP, if requested.

Attendance: By agreeing to participate in the ALDP, Fellows are explicitly committing to attend all ALDP events and activities. However, unavoidable circumstances may require a Fellow to miss one or more scheduled events or activities. Unavoidable circumstances include (but are not limited to) illness, hospitalization, death in the family, jury duty, and religious observances.

Missed Webinar: If a Fellow cannot attend a scheduled virtual webinar, they are expected to watch the recording after completing the session. Liaisons ensure that Fellows who cannot attend watch the webinar recordings.

Missed Workshop: If a Fellow cannot attend one of the scheduled in-person workshops, they are expected to attend one in the subsequent year before qualifying for program graduation. The MAC office is responsible for monitoring Fellows' workshop attendance and coordinating Fellows' workshop attendance in the subsequent year with Liaisons. Housing, travel, and accommodation costs for attending a workshop in a subsequent year are the responsibility of the Institution or Fellow (at the discretion of the Institution).

• Christina Metevier, Associate Provost for Academic Programs at the Charles River Campus
• Michelle Trim, Senior Lecturer II of Computer Science
• Kofi-Charu Nat Turner, Department Chair and Professor of Teacher Education & Curriculum Studies
• Grant Wilson, Department Head and Professor of Astronomy

Learn more about the 2025-26 Fellows and their projects.