Program Activation Case Study | RICA Leadership in Higher Education Program
In the fall of 2021, while traveling through Nebraska after relocating from Seattle during the pandemic, I had a fortuitous meeting with Blayne Sharpe, who was managing a portfolio of projects for University of Nebraska-Lincoln as the Director of Partnerships and Exchange - Africa. He recognized the synergy between my background in leadership development, career development, entrepreneurship training, and diversity & inclusion and it’s alignment with an existing partnership they had with the Rwanda Institute for Conservation Agriculture (RICA).
Over three months, we prepared for an 11-month engagement where I managed three work streams, including building a leadership program for faculty and staff, supporting the development of an entrepreneurship course of study for students, and facilitating peer mentorship between faculty at RICA and the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. For this case study, I'll focus on the design and delivery of the Leadership Development Program.
Discover: During this phase, we built an initial Concept Note for RICA leadership based on interviews with higher education leaders including Michael McLendon (Former Provost and Dean at Baylor University), Tiffany Heng-Moss (Dean of the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources at University of Nebraska-Lincoln), Kirsten Turner (Vice President of Student Success at University of Kentucky), and Fay Hodza (Former Academic Director at The African Leadership University), with representation from both academics and student affairs. We also reviewed existing leadership development programs like The HERS Leadership Institute, to identify key content areas. The program, titled "Leadership in Higher Education" (LHE), was suggested as a pilot with six recommended emerging leaders to foster collaboration across departments and inspire future potential administrators.
Design: Following feedback from RICA leadership, we customized the program design to align with the institution's culture and priorities. This involved interviews with key leaders at RICA, including the Division Vice Chancellors and the Director of Human Resources, as well as 1:1 conversations with program participants. Collaborating with a team, including Curriculum Coordinator Lark Hovey, and Project Manager Vanessa Nkesha, we developed a Needs Assessment & Program Proposal synthesizing findings and suggesting an emphasis on cohort cohesion, systems thinking, and a growth mindset. Through advisement of an organizational development expert from Rwanda, Peter Malinga, we also focused on cultural contextualization of the program design and delivery.
Deliver: The delivery phase commenced with a successful kick-off event, featuring participants, University of Nebraska-Lincoln & RICA leaders, as well as external thought partners. The program delivery emphasized cross-cultural perspectives on leadership, competency development, and blended learning methodologies using Moodle for online content and monthly in-person workshops. Subject Matter Experts, or Topic Collaborators, were recruited from universities across the globe to share case studies of leadership related to topics such as leading diverse teams, project management, and stakeholder management. A landing page was created by the University of Nebraska-Lincoln facilitated communication with internal and external stakeholders. We culminated the program with a team-based Capstone Project to address a key opportunity within the university.
Debrief: Assessment through surveys and interviews highlighted the program's effectiveness. Key values included participants' increased confidence and willingness to take on leadership roles, enhanced collaboration across departments, and a deeper understanding of the university's key functions and capabilities required for administration. Facilitating workshops in collaboration with peer institution leaders strengthened RICA's network for future knowledge sharing activities.
Program Activation Testimonial:
"I want to express my gratitude for the unique opportunity provided by this training program. As academics, we inherently serve as leaders to our students, setting examples in behavior, issue resolution, and problem-solving. However, as young professionals, we may find ourselves stepping into more significant leadership roles without adequate preparation. This training in LHE is invaluable in filling that gap, tailored to address our individual challenges within our specific contexts. I appreciate the inclusion of experienced leaders like Pr. Silas Lwakabamba, whose journey has been both challenging and inspiring. Hearing his story encourages me to believe in my own potential for growth and impact. I believe every young academician should have access to such opportunities."
- Dr. Fausta Dutuze, One Health Thread Coordinator and Faculty Member
