Department heads and chairs are the bridges between faculty, staff, students, alumni, and upper administration. Their work is crucial to the success of UMass Amherst.
OFD’s Heads & Chairs Leadership Development program is designed to help heads and chairs understand their important role in the university, enhance leadership skills, build community and support, disseminate policy information, and connect with campus resources. The program includes a new heads and chairs academy and quick-start guide, the LEAD+ biweekly workshop series, a mutual mentoring group, a writing circle, and other opportunities to learn, connect, and grow in your role.
Resources that are immediately helpful to you and point toward more comprehensive information as you begin your important role.
A six-part workshop, coaching, and mentoring experience that helps heads and chairs improve departmental relationships.
New Heads & Chairs Academy
OFD’s New Heads & Chairs Academy is an intensive, two-day leadership training for new department heads and chairs.
Topics include workflow and responsibilities, goal setting and time management, building relationships with staff, student success, community building, and preparing for the challenges that come with leading departments. Participants will also hear from a roundtable of veteran chairs to offer insight and advice.
Summer 2025
New Heads & Chairs Academy is scheduled for Thursday, August 7 and Friday August 8—please reach out to @email for details.
Heads & Chairs Mutual Mentoring
The Heads and Chairs Mutual Mentoring group meets monthly for facilitated mutual mentoring conversations. This program provides a forum for department heads and chairs to support each other and share their wisdom. We will collect interest at the start of each year. If you missed the initial call and would like to attend, please reach out to us.
For more information, please email @email.
Heads & Chairs Writing Circle
The Heads & Chairs Writing Circle meets weekly throughout each semester to provide a dedicated space for writing, away from the never-ending to do list of the role.
Heads and chairs set writing intentions for the day, write together in community, and set writing goals for the upcoming week.
For more information, please email ofd@umass.edu.
Upcoming Events
Heads & Chairs Resources
Associate Provost for Faculty Development, Professor of Resource Economics