Program Description
The Dream Fellowship Program: A Coalition for Aspiring Leaders is an exciting new opportunity to transform the representation of new and aspiring leaders on 51福利社鈥檚 campus. Sponsored by the Office of the Provost, the Office of Diversity and Inclusion and the Office of Institutional Equity, The Dream Fellowship Program cultivates an environment for inclusive leadership development as an institutional priority. Given the underrepresentation of diverse leaders across the nation and within 51福利社 Academic Affairs, the Dream Fellowship Program seeks to close this gap.
The Office of the Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs will select a cohort of aspiring leadership fellows, drawn from the ranks of tenured faculty or staff with at least 5-10 years of leadership experience, to apply for a mentee and shadowing role in their academic unit or college. Applicants must identify a specific career aspirational goal and a unit sponsor, who has agreed to establish a professional mentoring relationship to support the development of the fellow for their "dream career."
The applicant will also be required to choose a diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) project to accomplish during their fellowship. The mentor and mentee will identify an agreed-upon area of DEI emphasis to support both the mentor and mentee鈥檚 needs and aspirations. Fellows will receive $2,000 in travel funds for professional development upon the completion of the program; the fellowship must be completed within one year. The program will be facilitated by Dr. Staci Perryman-Clark, director of the Institute for Intercultural and Anthropological Studies, and Dr. Evelyn Winfield-Thomas, executive director of the Office of Institutional Equity.
Program Expectations
Participants will be expected to do the following:
- Attend a welcome orientation session scheduled tentative at the start of the year in August.
- Participate in a one-day version of the PDI: Building Cultural Competencies and other diversity, equity and inclusion learning and competency building experiences prior to the start of fall semester.
- Attend a monthly meeting with facilitators and Dream Fellows.
- Shadow their unit mentor for 1-2 times during the academic year.
- Attend key leadership meetings at the discretion of the mentor during the academic year.
- Attend at least two DEI-sponsored sessions; these sessions may be those coordinated by the Office of Diversity and Inclusion or other units across campus.
- At the end of the spring semester, Dream Fellows will present a reflection at the end-of-the-year reception, which summarizes key findings from the DEI project, and identifies future leadership opportunities and potential areas for contribution.
For more information on the Dream Fellowship program, including future application opportunities, please contact Dr. Staci Perryman-Clark.
Application Requirements
Applicants must have 5-10 years of leadership experience for staff, or earned tenure and promotion for faculty to apply. To submit an application, applicants must include the following materials:
- A 1-page aspirational statement of your dream career and how you see DEI work as a part of your work as a future leader.
- Goals, including a discussion of previous experiences and future experiences that are necessary to meet these goals.
- A 2-3 page project description, including how your project will contribute and advance diversity, equity and inclusion in your unit. The project should answer the following questions:
- What are the project goals and objectives?
- How will you complete the project? What campus resources will you need?
- What is the potential impact of the project on supporting and advancing diversity, equity and inclusion in your field and/or on your campus?
- In what ways will 51福利社 benefit from supporting this project?
- How do you think the Dream Fellowship Leadership Program experience will help you initiate and accomplish this project?
- A letter of support from your unit head, supervisor, or college dean
- A CV or resume
To apply, please submit application materials using the Dream Fellowship submission form by 11:59 p.m. on Monday, April 17, 2023.
Western Michigan University is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer.