The Faculty Executive Leadership Academy (FELA) is designed to identify, foster, and develop senior faculty members for leadership. This program will build on individuals’ previous leadership development experiences by providing first access to senior leadership and their decisions; offering close, and accessible, mentoring; and participating in the formulation of solutions and policies related to real problems and on-going issues.
First Cohort Selected
Nov 18, 2021 — Atlanta, GA
Four faculty members have been selected to participate in the first cohort of the two-year Faculty Executive Leadership Academy (FELA). Those selected include Susan Burns, professor and associate chair for Administration and Finance, School of Civil and Environmental Engineering; Hang Lu, Love Family Professor of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering; Pinar Keskinocak, William W. George Chair and professor, H. Milton Stewart School of Industrial and Systems Engineering; and Alessandro (Alex) Orso, professor and associate dean, College of Computing. Read more.
Program Description
Four FELA Fellows have been selected for rotations over a two-year period (Jan. 1, 2022 thru Dec., 2023).
The FELA will be composed of four components, designed to foster a holistic leadership development experience for the Fellows:
Shadowing
Each Fellow will spend a six-month shadowing and project rotation in each of the Institute’s executive offices: President, Provost, EVPR, and EVP-A&F. During the six-month rotation, the fellow will be invited to participate in selected meetings, shadow the executive in selected day-to-day activities and will be asked to complete a project of relevance to that executive’s mission and strategies.
Project
The Fellows will work on four short term, high impact projects. Each project will focus on an objective of significance to the mission or strategic goals of each of the four divisional areas of the Institute. Projects will be selected prior to the start of each rotation in consultation between the Fellow and the executive and will follow a defined project plan with a deliverable due at the end of the six-month period. Projects will be in support of specific Institute-Strategic Plan initiatives. Some example projects include:
- National lab collaboration and relationship development
- Forging relationships with local tech industry giants (Google, Microsoft, etc).
- HBCU and Minority-Serving Institutes research collaboration and partnership
- Georgia Tech’s role in the state as a public research university
- Leveraging Association of American Universities (AAU) status and relationships
- Accelerating research activities in the liberal arts and humanities
- Supporting the development and success of student athletes
- Improving institute support for faculty research start-up
- Incorporating research growth and aspirations into the Campus Master Plan
- Is there a role for the Institute in K-12 and two-year degrees?
- The future of work – workforce of the future.
- What are untapped audiences, degrees and markets for GT’s enrollment growth?
- How to increase international reputation?
- What are potential revenue generating ideas and corresponding implementation plans?
Cohort meetings and activities
Former Provost Rafael L. Bras will serve as the program director and coordinator and organize the activities of the Fellows, including the monthly meetings outside of the shadowing of the leadership. He will serve as a mentor and provide guidance to the participants. The FELA Fellows will also participate in two short trips to other institutions.
Leadership development resources
FELA fellows will have access to leadership development resources and support to include internal executive coaching and leadership development support funding for travel or other additional activities selected by the participant.
Sample rotation schedule
| Faculty Leadership Fellow | Jan. 1-June 30, 2022 | July 1-Dec. 31, 2022 | Jan. 1-June 30, 2023 | July 1-Dec. 31, 2023 |
| FLF #1 | President | Provost | EVPR | EVP-A&F |
| FLF #2 | EVP-A&F | President | Provost | EVPR |
| FLF #3 | EVPR | EVP-A&F | President | Provost |
| FLF #4 | Provost | EVPR | EVP-A&F | President |
Application & Appointment
How to apply
Applications will be accepted from among the tenured full professors at Georgia Tech. Applications should include one document (pdf) saved as: Last Name_ First Name. The file should include the documents below in numbered order:
- A cover letter (no more than three pages) that includes:
- What the applicant would hope to gain from participation in the program
- How they could contribute to the Georgia Tech mission and the Strategic Plan through the program
- Prior leadership development activities, including level of engagement in those activities
- Plan for how they will adjust their current time and commitments to participate in this program
- Short-term and long-term leadership aspirations
- A current CV
- List of five internal references representing a mix of leaders, faculty, and staff.
Assuming the program continues beyond the initial two-year period, applications will be solicited every other year (again in 2023).
To apply for FELA, go to the InfoReady application. Have questions? Contact Jaydale Codrington-Poyotte.
Selection process
The Faculty Leadership Fellows will be selected through a three-step process:
- Following the application deadline, each dean will be asked to provide feedback on each applicant’s leadership potential.
- A representative from each of the four executives’ leadership teams, as well as the program director, will be asked to review the applications and deans’ summaries, and through a discussion of the group, a short list of finalists will be selected.
- The selected finalists will meet individually with each of the executives. Following the meetings, the four executives will meet and agree upon the four selected FELA Fellows.
FELA Fellows will be notified no later than early December and attend orientation and a meet and greet with Institute executives.
Appointment terms and requirements
- The program starts January 2022 and continues through December 31, 2023 with FELA Fellows expected to engage throughout the entire calendar year.
- FELA Fellows will receive three types of financial support:
- Funds for salary replacement: $20,000 for each 12-month period in the program (for a total of $40,000 over the two years). These funds can be used for course buy-out, research support, or summer salary.
- Temporary salary supplement of $15,000 for each academic year in the program (for a total of $30,000 over the two years).
- Access to professional development travel funds up to $5,000 to be used during the two years of the program.
- Fellows will be expected to spend about 8-10 hours/week in activities related to the program. Specific projects and meeting attendance will be set by the current supervising executive.
- Fellows will be required to attend an orientation workshop prior to the start of the program, periodic group meetings (monthly) throughout the program and will meet as a group following each rotation to debrief the experience, leadership lessons learned, and plans for the next rotation.
- Fellows will have access to internal executive coaching throughout the program.
