Dr. Johnnie Early, dean of the UT College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, is serving as a leadership facilitator for the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy 2015-16 Academic Leadership Fellows Program.
The Academic Leadership Fellows Program is in its 13th year. The program lasts for one year and includes four sessions that are designed to develop leaders in academic pharmacy and higher education.
Early
The American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy leadership facilitators are involved in the selection of Fellows. Throughout the program, the facilitators provide feedback to the Fellows on their progress, listen to their ideas, and prompt them to think in new ways.
“Dr. Early unselfishly exemplifies an interest in the success of students and career development of faculty. These traits are ones of a true leader and that is why he was chosen to be a leadership facilitator for the current Academic Leadership Fellows Program cohort,” said John C. Ressler, director of academic programs and professional development for the Academic Leadership Fellows Program.
The most important duty Early has as a leadership facilitator is to share his experiences and learning with his cohort (group of Fellows), he said. He also communicates with past Fellows who were in sessions with him but were not in his cohort.
Early said he grows more with each exposure to the program.
“While I have been blessed with a uniquely diverse set of leadership experiences in academic pharmacy, I also continue to learn. Learning occurs through the Fellows program, talks, readings and the Academic Leadership Fellows Program experiences. It is a very well done program,” he said.
In addition to Early, several other faculty members have been or are currently involved in the Academic Leadership Fellows Program. Dr. Amanda Bryant-Friedrich, UT associate professor of medicinal chemistry, is a current Fellow of the program.
Bryant-Friedrich said the program is allowing her to learn a great deal about herself and build relationships with those she serves and reports to.
“I have learned a great deal about academic leadership and how to prepare myself for future leadership roles,” she said.
Other UT faculty graduates of the Academic Leadership Fellows Program from the College of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences include Dr. Laurie Mauro, associate dean of academic affairs; Dr. Monica Holiday-Goodman, associate dean of student affairs; Dr. Mary Powers, associate dean of student affairs; and Dr. Megan Kaun, director of experiential education.
According to Early, the University intends to send more faculty members as Fellows to the program.
“We are blessed with a number of individuals who already demonstrate leadership, and part of our role is to help them develop. In fact, the college through its leadership council has its own development plan for Fellows,” Early said.
For more information on the American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy Academic Leadership Fellows Program, click here.
