Meet the next Emerging Leaders Academy cohort

Thirty faculty and staff have been chosen for the 2019-20 cohort of Iowa State's Emerging Leaders Academy (ELA). They are:

  • Monic Behnken, sociology
  • Eric Brown, apparel, events and hospitality management
  • Taren Crow, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences administration
  • Darin Dugan, IT services systems and operations
  • Carol Faber, graphic design
  • Michael Francom, College of Engineering administration
  • Mallory Hamilton, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences administration
  • Harrison Inefuku, University Library
  • Christa Jackson, School of Education
  • Shaun Jamieson, risk management
  • Tera Jordan, human development and family studies
  • Aileen Keating, animal science
  • Jacek Koziel, agricultural and biosystems engineering
  • Susan Lammers, residence
  • Sophia Magill, federal relations
  • Mark Mba Wright, mechanical engineering
  • Seda McKilligan, College of Design administration
  • Clay Miller, environmental health and safety
  • Andrea Nelson, ISU Extension and Outreach
  • Kristen Obbink, office of the vice president for research
  • Sara Parris, Thielen Student Health Center
  • Sekar Raju, marketing department
  • Erin Schwartz, student financial aid
  • Elijah Stines, mathematics
  • Lucia Suarez, world languages and cultures
  • Cory Walker, animal science
  • Corey Welch, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences administration
  • Yanhai Yin, genetics, development and cell biology
  • Jianqiang Zhang, veterinary diagnostic and production animal medicine
  • Lin Zhou, Ames Laboratory, U.S. Department of Energy 

Established in 2009, ELA is an academic-year initiative to better prepare faculty and professional and scientific staff who serve in leadership roles or aspire to hold leadership positions. Participants attend monthly sessions on topics related to leadership theory and practice, communication, formal presentation, understanding environment and culture, budgeting and resource management, performance management and ethical leadership.

Participants also complete capstone projects that address university needs and support Iowa State’s strategic plans. For example, recent projects focused on promoting diversity and inclusion, creating sustainable models for student assistance initiatives, commemorating students who die during their time on campus and compiling an oral history of the university.

ELA is led by faculty director Rod Bagley, professor and chair of veterinary clinical sciences, and Katharine Hensley, faculty success coordinator in the office of the senior vice president and provost.