In continuation of Academic Recognition Week, the Office for Teaching and Learning recognizes the dedication of the Academic Leadership Academy (ALA), and invites the campus community to join in recognizing their efforts to build a community of empowerment, high morale and engagement at Wayne State.

Created by the Office of the Provost in 2019, the ALA is part of Wayne State’s ongoing commitment to the success and growth of its faculty and staff. Designed to support development of the university’s leadership skills and capacity, the ALA encourages individuals from across campus to work together to achieve common goals. The ALA is an intensive, year-long leadership development experience, where each fellow leads a team to craft and implement a project to benefit the greater WSU community.

The 2020-21 ALA fellows are:

• Maya Calloway Richardson, academic services officer in the College of Fine, Performing and Communication Arts
• Stephen Chrisomalis, associate professor of anthropology in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
• Cassandra Davis, assistant professor of marketing in the Mike Ilitch School of Business
• Zeina Ghoul, Study Skills Academy coordinator, Academic Affairs (Student Success)
• Justine Gortney, associate professor (clinical) of pharmacy practice and director of assessment in the Eugene Applebaum College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences
• Lauren Hamel, assistant professor of oncology in the School of Medicine
• Eric Kessell, lecturer of public health in the College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
• Nicole Murn, clinical instructor and graduate specialty coordinator in the College of Nursing
• Angel Niederkohr, academic advisor in the Irvin D. Reid Honors College
• Nicholas Patterson, academic advisor and career development coordinator, Academic Affairs (APEX Scholars)
• Rachel Pawlowski, academic advisor in the Irvin D. Reid Honors College
• Megen Rehahn Drulia, academic services officer in the School of Information Sciences
• MaryAnne Stewart, assistant professor (clinical) of clinical laboratory sciences in the Eugene Applebaum College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences
• Scott Tainsky, associate professor and director of sport and entertainment management in the Mike Ilitch School of Business

The inaugural 2019-20 Academic Leadership Academy includes:

• Diane Adamo, associate professor of physical therapy and director of research, Eugene Applebaum College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences
• Poonam Arya, professor of reading, language and literature, College of Education
• Karen Beningo, associate professor of biological sciences, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
• Zsa-Zsa Booker, learning skills specialist, Office of Learning and Teaching, School of Medicine
• Anglesia Brown, academic services officer and human resources liaison, department of English, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
• Susan Davis, professor (clinical) of pharmacy practice, Eugene Applebaum College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences
• Rosanne DiZazzo-Miller, associate professor of occupational therapy, Eugene Applebaum College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences
• Damecia Donahue, librarian, University Libraries
• Rafael Fridman, professor of pathology, School of Medicine
• Candice Garwood, professor (clinical) of pharmacy practice, Eugene Applebaum College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences
• Jennifer Hart, associate professor of history, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
• Christine Huang, associate director of the Tutor Training Academy and Peer Assisted Learning, Academic Success Center
• Shantalea Johns, director of continuing and interprofessional education and lecturer, School of Social Work
• Lara Jones, associate professor of psychology, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
• Kristiana Kaufmann, global and urban health section director and fellowship director, Emergency Medicine, School of Medicine
• Poco Kernsmith, professor and doctoral program director, School of Social Work
• Kafi Kumasi, associate professor of library and information science, School of Information Sciences
• Karen Liston, librarian, University Libraries
• Kim Morgan, academic advisor, Mathematics, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
• Mary Beth O’Connell, professor of pharmacy practice, Eugene Applebaum College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences
• Ijeoma Nnodim Opara, associate program director, Med Peds program, School of Medicine
• Alexey Petrov, professor of physics, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
• Christine Powell, financial aid officer, Enrollment Management
• Heather Sandlin, academic services officer, Health Sciences, Eugene Applebaum College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences
• Ryan Thomas, financial aid officer, Enrollment Management
• Mary Waker, academic services officer, College of Education

Additional information about the ALA can be found online.