Image

Wilmore Webley, senior vice provost for equity and inclusion, has announced the selection of 12 faculty members for the National Center for Faculty Development and Diversity (NCFDD) Summer 2025 Faculty Success Program (FSP). The 10-week online program, which begins in May, aims to support non-tenure track, tenure track and tenured faculty in enhancing their research and writing productivity through empirically tested methods, while also improving work-life balance and fostering personal growth.

The selected Faculty Success Fellows were recommended by their respective departments and colleges, following a comprehensive assessment of their needs and the potential impact on their career paths, especially in relation to tenure, promotion or continuation of contracts for lecturers.

To support their participation, the fellows will receive funding through a cost-sharing model involving their department, college and the Office of the Provost, to help cover the costs associated with the NCFDD Faculty Success Program. Participants will benefit from mentorship, feedback and ongoing support throughout the year. After completing the program, the fellows become FSP alumni and can reengage with resources and peers up to three times a year.

As an institutional member of the NCFDD, UMass Amherst provides all faculty members with free access to membership resources. These resources include monthly webinars, multi-week courses, a peer mentoring and problem-solving discussion forum, writing challenges and access to the NCFDD member library, which contains materials from previous webinars, referrals, and relevant readings. Additionally, the center offers professional development training and intensive mentoring programs.

The 2025 Faculty Success Fellows are: 

• Bradley Bennett, Department Chair & Ronald C. Mannino Faculty Fellow, Accounting, Isenberg School of Management
• Selasi Dankwa, Assistant Professor, Microbiology, College of Natural Sciences
• Maya Eddon, Associate Professor, Philosophy, College of Humanities and Fine Arts
• Awino Hellen, Assistant Professor, Architecture, College of Humanities and Fine Arts
• Ajhanai Keaton, Assistant Professor, Sport Management, Isenberg School of Management
• Sang Hyun Lee, Assistant Professor, Microbiology, College of Natural Sciences
• Yiyi Luo, Assistant Professor, Languages, Literatures, and Cultures, College of Humanities and Fine Arts
• Varghese Mathai, Assistant Professor, Physics, College of Natural Sciences
• Gabriela Richard, Associate Professor, Teacher Education and Curriculum Studies, College of Education
• Adaora Ubaka, Assistant Professor, Management, Isenberg School of Management
• Qian Zhao, Assistant Professor, Mathematics and Statistics, College of Natural Sciences
• Jia Zheng, Assistant Professor, Student Development, College of Education

More information on the NCFDD and the Faculty Success Program, including details on how to activate NCFDD membership, can be found on the Faculty Development and Diversity webpage.