Purpose and Overview

• The Academic Leadership Fellows Program (ALFP) develops and supports leaders in the Academy that contribute to the advancement of pharmacy education, higher education, and the pharmacy profession.
• Fellows are selected and participate  in a longitudinal program consisting of 4 in-person sessions and 4-6 (1-hour) virtual sessions over the course of the year.  There are 35 fellows in a cohort.  Fellows in the cohort are assigned to a longitudinal team assigned a Dean Leadership Facilitator that facilitate the in-person sessions and provide external mentoring.
• Fellows also develop an individualized plan with an assigned Dean Mentor from their home institution.  The Dean Mentor does not participate or travel to the four in-person sessions of ALFP.  The purpose is discuss and apply what the Fellow has learned at the sessions throughout the year to their local context.

ALFP Learning Objectives:

1. Develop leadership skills through the process of self-discovery and reflection.

2. Cultivate a network of colleagues for support and mentorship.

3.  Apply leadership concepts and theories within academic pharmacy.

4.  Enhance leadership and management skills to build an executive presence.

5.  Create a leadership philosophy that can guide your leadership journey.

Sessions Overview

Session I

Leadership and Self: Discovery and Teamwork

Session I sets the tone for the year-long Fellows program. The objective of this session is for the Fellow to look within to realize and understand their personal strengths and weaknesses, enhance their knowledge of leadership theories/frameworks, build their leadership skills, and cultivate a network of peers.

Session I involves:

• classroom and outdoor activities to discover individual strengths and team-building
• discuss leadership theories
• apply leadership skills
• develop a network of support and shared experiences with cohort members
• create a leadership philosophy

Session II

Leadership Potpourri: Constructing Skills, Historical Perspectives and Higher Education

The second session of the year-long Fellow’s program involves further discovery of self and leadership skills building. Session II also involves viewing leadership from a historical perspective.

Components of Session II include:

• develop critical leadership skills based on many "soft skills" rooted in emotion, relationships, and communication
• visit a museum to discuss the intersection of diversity, equity, and inclusion and leadership
• visit Mt. Vernon, estate and home of the George Washington Presidential Library to learn about leadership from a historical perspective

Session III

Current Topics in Leadership, Leading to Wellbeing, and Debating Current Topics in Academic Pharmacy

Session III involves one and one-half days of additional presentations and leadership discussion followed by attendance at the Interim meeting.  The Fellows will be included in the Interim meeting programming by participating in a Fellows debate about controversial topics in academic pharmacy. 

Session III involves:

• apply leadership theories and skills to current leadership case studies
• discuss the importance of wellbeing for leaders
• debates of current topics in academic pharmacy 

Session IV

Refining Leadership Skills and Graduation

The final session of the year-long program provides the opportunity for the Fellows to culminate their learning experiences over the year.  The day ends with a graduation ceremony and dinner in honor of the Leadership Fellows.  Fellows will attend the Annual Meeting and present a poster highlighting key findings about their current topic covered in the debate.

Session IV involves:

• develop and enhance an executive presence
• discuss a variety of topics about leadership and management 
• celebrate a successful year of leadership development and become an official ALFP alumnus
• present an ALFP poster at Annual Meeting

Suggested Discussions and Activities for the Fellow and Dean Mentor at the Home Institution

The success of Fellows participating in ALFP is the sharing of knowledge and experience by the Dean Mentor and applying information the Fellow learned at the ALFP sessions to local contexts at the home institution.  The following are suggested topics and activities to consider when creating the individual mentoring plan at the home institution.  

Topics for discussion:

• Leadership style and philosophy
• Policy and university governance
• Legal issues in higher education
• Career advancement activities
• Human resource management
• Strategic planning
• Advocacy at the local, state, and national level
• Budgeting and finance considerations
• Leading versus managing
• Empowerment and delegation
• Change management
• Creating a healthy culture in the workplace
• Leading an organization within an organization

Activities to consider:

• Scheduled meetings with other leaders on campus (e.g., President, Provost, Vice-Provost, Dean from another school)
• Special project assigned by the Dean
• Discussion of articles from Harvard Business Review on leadership and management issues
• Select 2 of the books from the ALFP program and have a book club discussion
• Have a Fellow exchange with another Fellow/Dean Mentor pair to gain a different perspective

Academic Leaders Start Here

Since graduating Cohort 1 in 2005, the Academic Leadership Fellows Program has supported and contributed to the development of leaders in academic pharmacy and higher education. The program is intended to provide the opportunity for individuals to learn leadership theory, gain leadership skills, understand leadership strengths, and develop a personal leadership style to apply in pharmacy and higher education. ALFP allows participants to expand their professional network across the AACP academy.

Fellows commence their leadership path with an understanding of personal potential, talent and leadership strengths, and skills and management tools to more successfully engage in their responsibilities.

The four-session, year-long program includes:

• in-depth leadership development
• team building and networking
• exploration of critical issues related to pharmacy and higher education
• self assessment of leadership style and strengths
• assigned readings and discussions from top-tier leadership books and the Harvard Business Review
• exposure to practical management and administrative issues including tips for success
• access to national and international leaders in pharmacy and higher education
• team project concerning current issues in pharmacy education
• individualized plan for additional, mentoring, development, and application of knowledge gained from the four sessions at your home institution
• all sessions are interactive and application based!

 

A Sound Investment

Institutions who nominate a member of their faculty to participate in the Academic Leadership Fellows Program take an important step in developing a promising leader who will be prepared to make significant contributions to:

• academic pharmacy
• their home institution
• higher education
• the Fellow’s career

Nominating deans invest both financial and personnel resources in the program. The dean makes a personal commitment to ensure the program is successful for the nominee by serving as a mentor for the Fellow. The Dean Mentor from the home institution does NOT officially participate in the ALFP sessions or travel to the meetings.  The role is to provide additional mentoring and application of what the Fellow has learned and apply the information to local context at the home institution.  

All AACP members are eligible to apply to the program. Applicants must submit a letter of intent, current CV, and a letter of recommendation from the Dean Mentor.  Please go to the main ALFP website for more information on application instructions.

The  fee for the Academic Leadership Fellows Program is $9,950, which includes program tuition, curriculum, speakers, leadership texts, some meals, a one-year subscription to the Harvard Business Review, a team-building "ropes course" and the Gallup Clifton Strengths exercises, trips to DC-based museums and registration for the AACP INterim and Annual Meetings. Travel, lodging and most meal costs are the responsibility of the Fellow and/or college or school. Prior to the start of the program, AACP will email the Fellow their registration invoice in May with full payment requested by mid-July prior to the Annual Meeting.

Help make a strong case with the administration at your school by using the talking points below:

• Review the program curriculum and schedule. Write down key sessions or topics that you think will help you be a better leader and educator, and how those lessons might positively impact your department and school.
• Analyze current challenges and learn from others. As a member of this distinguished group of leaders, you’ll have opportunities to form life-long relationships with colleagues and grow a network with peers across institutions, drawing experience from those facing similar problems and successes.
• Watch the ABCs of ALFP webinar to hear first-hand how the program impacted Fellows careers, and how the relationship with dean mentors played an important role.

 

Creating a Future Leader

Participants in this dynamic program benefit from:

• presentations by national and international leaders in higher education
• mentoring by deans and university leaders
• networking with peers
• engaging teamwork
• Clifton Strengths program
• interacting with the George Washington Presidential Library staff and leaders
• interacting with the Planet Word museum staff and leaders
• the opportunity to advance leadership skills, advance their career, and ultimately add value to their school/college of pharmacy

The following represents a suggested plan of study for the participating Dean Mentor and Fellow during the AACP Academic Leadership Fellows program.

Goal of Local ALFP Curriculum

Examine and draw own conclusions based on experienced guidance regarding topics in leadership and management in health professions and higher education.  Providing as many opportunities for application of topics covered in the formal ALFP curriculum within the local context is important.

Suggested Objectives of Local ALFP Curriculum

1. Analyze and apply knowledge, skills, and attitudes from the formal ALFP program in local context.
2. Create new relationships with Dean and others in pharmacy program.
3. Create new relationships within the campus and university while simultaneously creating leadership skills and network for future involvement.
4. Evaluate the possibilities for leading change in higher education and health professions education.

Cultivating the experience

1. Develop a schedule of formal and informal meetings at the onset with the Dean and other leadership in the school of pharmacy.
2. Set expectations of what school leadership meetings it is reasonable for Fellow to attend, and determine dates and times in advance.
3. Create a schedule of meetings with the individuals listed that the Dean and Fellow determine appropriate. Fellow should determine the reason for the meeting, and the expected outcome. Fellow should prepare agendas, schedules and follow up. Discuss how these meetings enhance leadership development. These individuals might include: President, Provost, Development officers, Governance and Advocacy office (for scheduling meetings with state and local politicians), State and local politicians. and Local community organizations (Area Agency on Aging, NAMI, Organization of Cities and Counties, and others).
4. List national meetings in higher education or health professions education which would be beneficial to attend.
5. Determine if there will be a Fellows swap in the year or as a second year activity. (Fellow from one school arranges to spend time at another school. Fellow from another school spends time at your school).
6. Choose 1-2 leadership books for discussion over the course of the year.
7. Decide on 1-2 topic discussions to complete over the course of the year.
8. Utilize the articles in the Harvard Business Review for discussion with Dean, or in other leadership opportunities within the school or college.

The AACP House of Delegates (HOD) is the democratic policy-setting body of the Association. Each Regular Institutional Member has two delegates and two alternates appointed or elected annually as either the Administrative Delegate or the Faculty Delegate, respectively. The House of Delegates meets annually at two sessions during the AACP Annual Meeting to conduct its business.

AACP is pleased to offer continuing education credits for the Academic Leadership Fellows Program.

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