Five chosen as Senior Administrative Fellows

Five faculty members have been named Senior Administrative Fellows for 2009-10. They are Mary Banwart, associate professor of communication studies; Marta Caminero-Santangelo, associate professor of English; Paul Kelton, associate professor and chair of history; David Smith, professor of sociology; and Lorie Vanchena, associate professor of Germanic languages and literatures.

Under the direction of Mary Lee Hummert, vice provost for faculty development, the program allows selected faculty the opportunity to explore senior administration through meeting with senior administrators, visiting administrative units across campus and discussing national trends in higher education.

Now in its 17th year, the fellows program has given faculty a "bird’s eye view" of the nuts and bolts of educational administration.

Many of the participants in the program are department chairs and faculty leaders like current fellow Liz Kowalchuk, associate professor of design, who will begin her position as associate dean for the new School of the Arts on July 1.

“Over the course of the academic year, the Senior Administrative Fellows provided me an opportunity to learn about the lives, achievements, responsibilities and challenges of the people who occupy the most important administrative positions at KU,” Kowalchuk said, adding that she appreciated having candid conversations with senior administration in small, informal and confidential settings.

The group of five fellows is selected from nominations each year to work together for approximately four hours per month. There is no stipend or release time offered or expectation of an administrative position at the conclusion of the year.

The current Senior Administrative Fellows are: Arvin Agah, professor of electrical engineering and computer science; Allard Jongman, chair of linguistics; Stephen Kapp, associate professor of social welfare; Kowalchuk; Keith Diaz Moore, associate professor and chair of architecture; Terry Slocum, associate professor and chair of geography; Ric Steele, associate professor of psychology, applied behavioral sciences, and clinical child psychology; and Holly Storkel, associate professor of speech-language-hearing.