Indiana University-Purdue University Columbus (IUPUC) has been included in an initiative spearheaded in 2015 by Nasser Paydar, then executive vice chancellor and chief academic officer at IUPUI. The strategic plan includes set goals to retain and develop a diverse pool of talent to lead the institution into the future. The new leadership program is titled “IUPUI Next Generation 2.0” intended to prepare women and underrepresented minority faculty and staff for positions of leadership and opportunities for advancement at IUPUI, and IUPUC in the perspective roles of higher education.

IUPUI Next Generation 2.0 is a program designed to provide individuals with the opportunity to acquire additional leadership skills and professional development in preparation for career advancement in higher education. The program expanded upon the successes of a previous program on campus in 2009; Next Generation targets women and underrepresented minority faculty and staff who are poised to pursue the next level of their career or who wish to hone their skills to lead better from their current positions.

Through this focus, the program seeks to address the need for a more diverse pool of leadership talent at IUPUI in the ranks of mid-level and upper administration as envisioned by the Strategic Plan. Candidates should be mid-career faculty or staff interested in seeking leadership opportunities at IUPUI or increasing their leadership skills. Candidates can be self-nominated or recommended by deans and department/unit supervisors.

Participants will engage with a ten-month curriculum focused on a variety of topics designed to enhance their leadership potential and professional acumen. Included in the mission of urban institutions; planning and leading change; negotiating and managing conflict; budgets and finances; self-assessment; mentorship; individual and institutional diversity; and managing strategic resources, among others. A highlight of the program is the opportunity for participants to develop a leadership project, individually or in a group, which links directly back to their current work or the campus mission and strategic plan.

On April 6, a group of organizers from IUPUI headed the Next Generation Leadership 2.0 Program. Four participants in the current program are from IUPUC include Kimdy Le, Joan Poulsen, Anibal Torres, Crystal Walcott.

At the session, a discussion regarding the Importance of Community Engagement (between the university and the community) was held. The speaker for the program was Tom Vujovich, who sits on our board of advisors at IUPUC and is passionate about the role of IUPUC within the city of Columbus.