The Bluegrass Higher Education Consortium has announced that 41 Fellows – including six from Morehead State University - have completed its third Bluegrass Academic Leadership Academy.
The Academic Leadership Academy is a presidential initiative, led by the 12 presidents represented in the consortium, to build future academic leaders in the Bluegrass Region.
The MSU Fellows were Dr. Doug Chatham, Department of Mathematics and Physics interim chair; Jennifer Crisp-Timmermann, transition services director; David Litteral, military initiatives director; Krys Lynam, 21st Century Education Enterprise communications and business manager; Dr. Johnathan Nelson, assistant professor of management; and Dr. Shannon Smith-Stephens, counseling and health services director.
The Fellows experienced full-day sessions on Feb. 18 at Berea College and April 29 at the University of Kentucky’s Spindletop Hall.
During these sessions participants were encouraged to consider various leadership career paths within higher education. They also received guidance to gain the knowledge and develop the skill sets required for effective institutional leadership.
In between sessions, the Fellows worked in teams to complete a project benefiting their specific institution.
Each project team had a mentor from their institution who also served on the planning committee for the Academic Leadership Academy. Dr. Janet Rice McCoy, director of the Center for Leadership and Professional Development, served in these capacities for Morehead State.
At MSU, the project was titled “MCOMPASS: Mobile App to Aid Student Success and Retention.”
“Our Fellows explored the feasibility of a mobile application to help MSU students map course schedules and locate points of contact while easing their transition to MSU. They reviewed existing resources used by Disability Services, First Year Programs, and Career Services, in addition to external models.”
“This project is important because today’s millennial college students have grown up with smartphones and tablets—they speak the language of mobile apps,” said Dr. McCoy.
The Bluegrass Higher Education Consortium was chartered in 2012, under the Bluegrass Tomorrow 501c3 umbrella, with the mission of advancing the region both economically and educationally. Rob Rumpke is the president and CEO of Bluegrass Tomorrow.
The 12 regionally accredited four-year institutions participating in the consortium are Asbury University, Berea College, Bluegrass Community and Technical College, Centre College, Eastern Kentucky University, Georgetown College, Midway College, Morehead State University, Kentucky State University, Sullivan University, Transylvania University and the University of Kentucky.
Additional information is available by contacting Dr. McCoy at 606-783-2603.
