ACS Program: The Effective Department Chair | Associated Colleges of the South

Department chairs play a pivotal role in shaping academic programs, guiding faculty development, and advancing institutional goals. Their leadership directly influences student success, departmental culture, and the faculty experience. For new and emerging chairs – or for experienced chairs seeking fresh perspective and ongoing support – the ACS Effective Department Chair program offers a supportive and practical professional development experience grounded in community, mentoring, and real-world leadership challenges.

This program is designed to help department chairs thrive – not just survive – in their roles.

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Why Participate?

Why Participate?

Whether you are stepping into the chair role for the first time or looking to sharpen your leadership skills, this program provides:

● A structured series of monthly sessions focused on high-impact topics
● A small-group mentoring cohort led by experienced chairs/former chairs or academic leaders who understand your context
● A supportive network of peers from across ACS institutions who can share strategies, challenges, and practical feedback
● Actionable tools for self-reflection, communication, decision-making, and managing competing demands

The program emphasizes both personal leadership development and effective departmental management, helping chairs grow in confidence, capacity, and community.

Format and Commitment

Format and Commitment

The program runs from September to February and includes:

● Six monthly large-group core sessions (Tuesdays, 9-10:15 am. EST on Zoom) led by a team of experienced facilitators from different ACS institutions. These sessions combine short presentations with rich discussion, peer collaboration, and case-based learning.
● Five small-group mentoring sessions arranged around participants’ schedules. These groups foster meaningful mentoring relationships, practical problem-solving, and long-term peer support. They are led by one mentor; the aim is to structure groups with participants and facilitator from different institutions. In addition to timely mentoring opportunities, the small group sessions may build upon topics and strategies introduced in the core sessions.
● Brief pre-session readings or tools to deepen learning and personalize the experience.

The core sessions will be partially recorded (brief, introductory presentations only) for participants who need to miss a session. However, live attendance is strongly encouraged for the full benefit of discussion and community engagement. Discussion components of a session will not be recorded and the content of the small group mentoring sessions will be private among attendees.

Who Should Join?

Who Should Join?

This program is ideal for:

● New department chairs in their first one to two years
● Faculty preparing to assume a chair role in the near future
● Experienced chairs looking to refresh their practice and engage with peers

Program Goals

Program Goals

Over the course of the program, department chairs will:

1. Reflect on their personal leadership style and identify areas for growth
2. Build confidence in navigating difficult conversations and delivering feedback
3. Learn strategies to lead a cohesive, collegial, and functional department
4. Understand how to balance chair responsibilities with their scholarly identity
5. Develop resilience and self-care strategies to sustain effective leadership
6. Collaborate productively with senior administrators and advocate for their department’s goals

Session Topics (Core Sessions)

Session Topics (Core Sessions)
Tuesdays, 9-10:15 am. EST on Zoom

● September 2 – Who am I as a leader?
DiSC self-assessment, leadership styles, adaptive communication, and personal growth planning
● October 7 – Fostering an effective department
Faculty onboarding, inclusive decision-making, mentoring, and leading meetings
● November 4 – Delivering feedback with clarity and empathy
Performance reviews, difficult conversations, inherited context, and asking for feedback
● December 2 – Balancing the chair role with your scholarly identity
Burnout prevention, time management, setting boundaries, and building support networks
● January 6 – Promoting student success and departmental resilience
Responding to student concerns, strategic planning, and advocating for departmental needs
● February 3 – Working with senior administrators
“Managing up,” using data effectively, aligning departmental and institutional priorities

Preparation and Participation

Preparation and Participation

Pre-session readings or activities (about 30 minutes maximum) will be provided to enrich discussion. Participants are encouraged to engage with materials but are always welcome, even if time constraints prevent use of the pre-session materials.

Facilitators

Facilitators

Linda Boland, Professor of Biology at the University of Richmond
January Haile, Elizabeth Molloy Dowling Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, and Associate Vice President for Academic Affairs at Centre College
Fred LaRiviere, Associate Dean of the College and Associate Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry at Washington and Lee University
Fuji Lozada, Senior Associate Dean of the Faculty and Professor of Anthropology at Davidson College
Rashna Richards, Associate Provost and Professor of English at Rhodes College
Laura Senio Blair, Associate Dean of Faculty and Professor of Spanish & Latin American and Border Studies at Southwestern University

Registration is closed. Please contact Shiree Williams at swilliams@acsouth.edu for more information on the program, or if you would like to be placed on the waitlist.

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