August 26, 2024

Provost announces 2024-25 Academic Leadership Academy cohort

Accelerate mobility
The 2024-25 Academic Leadership Academy poses for a group photo.
The 2024-25 Academic Leadership Academy fellows will work to improve an aspect of campus life, while also building leadership skills.

The provost has announced the 2024-25 Academic Leadership Academy (ALA) cohort. 

Launched in 2019 as part of Wayne State University’s ongoing commitment to the success and growth of its faculty and staff and in alignment with the Strategic Plan’s emphasis on teaching, learning and student success, this prestigious group of fellows is dedicated to propelling the university’s mission. The 2024-25 Academic Leadership Academy fellows represent disciplines and units across campus. 

“Wayne State is proud to foster a culture among our academic leaders where we support one another to develop and grow in service of our shared mission,” said Provost and Senior Vice President for Academic Affairs Laurie Lauzon Clabo, Ph.D. “In addition to excellence in their respective roles, these leaders have stepped up to find innovative and creative ways to collectively advance this mission.”  

Following a competitive application process, each selected ALA fellow develops a leadership project to improve a facet of campus life. Fellows are also given the opportunity to build their leadership skills through the group’s retreat, monthly seminars, ongoing meetings with coaches and mentors, and a variety of assessments. 

“Wayne State will benefit for years to come because of the thoughtful, collaborative efforts of the Academic Leadership Academy fellows. The new cohort will join previous fellows in improving the university as committed, lifelong learners working together for a common goal,” said Sara Kacin, Ph.D., assistant provost for faculty development and faculty success and director of the Office for Teaching and Learning.


2024-25 Academic Leadership Academy

Maya Watson
Maya Watson, J.D.

Maya Watson

Assistant professor (clinical), Wayne Law  

“I sought out academic leadership development in hopes of contributing more toward the mission of WSU and being more effective in serving the students of Wayne Law and Detroit communities.” 

 

 

Emily Reetz
Emily Reetz

Emily Reetz

Academic advisor II, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences  

Reetz will focus on developing a more comprehensive internship experience for students in the Department of Political Science.  

 

 

Jeremy Rickli
Jeremy Rickli, Ph.D.

 

Jeremy Rickli

Associate professor, College of Engineering 

Rickli will include the design and launch of an internship/co-op focused manufacturing engineering master’s program in the Industrial and Systems Engineering Department.  

 

Jessica Pfeiffer
Jessica Pfeiffer

Jessica Pfeiffer

Academic services officer III, Eugene Applebaum College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences  

Pfeiffer will work to expand caregiver resources and support on campus.  

 

 

 

Zak Krug

Academic services officer II, Office of Academic Student Affairs 

Krug will create an elective course to help undergraduate students develop and enhance their leadership skills and abilities while gaining an understanding of leadership theory. 

 

Hanaa Hariri
Hanaa Hariri, Ph.D.

Hanaa Hariri

Assistant professor, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences 

Hariri will develop an educational platform to bridge science and societal issues, including a forum to discuss topics like gene-editing ethics, AI in scientific research and education, and diversity in science. 

 

 

 

 

Melanie Hinojosa
Melanie Hinojosa, Ph.D.

Melanie Hinojosa

Director of data administration, Center for Behavioral Health and Justice 

Hinojosa will develop a learning community within the Center for Behavioral Health and Justice that is focused on research collaborations related to data, mental health, substance use, health, medicine, education, law and the criminal legal system.  

 

 

 

Dena Nazer
Dena Nazer, M.D.

Dena Nazer

Professor (clinical), School of Medicine 

Nazer will further develop the Wayne State Empowerment of Academicians in Medicine (WE AIM) faculty development program, which seeks to empower underrepresented junior and mid-career faculty.  

 

 

 

Lenisa Daniels
Lenisa Daniels

Lenisa Daniels

Scholarship specialist, Office of Student Financial Aid 

“I am pursuing leadership development because I’d like to sharpen my skills and learn new ways to contribute to the growth and development of Wayne State.”  

 

 

 

Monique Green Jones
Monique Green-Jones, M.P.H.

 

Monique Green-Jones

Assistant professor (teaching), College of Liberal Arts and Sciences 

Green-Jones will develop a student-centered tool – Warrior Ways to Work – that illustrates how public health is a gateway major for those interested in lifting communities and affecting positive change in health and social outcomes. The four-year framework will help public health majors and minors navigate academic coursework, career development, civic engagement, student leadership and experiential learning opportunities that align with WSU’s College to Career initiative.  

 

Krystal Tosch
Krystal Tosch

Krystal Tosch

Web accessibility coordinator, Marketing and Communications and Office for Teaching & Learning 

Tosch will develop and lead an interdisciplinary and representative accessible experiences cohort that will include a virtual space in Canvas for resources, training, discussions and collaboration on various topics in accessibility including captions, heading levels, extended time on quizzes, accessibility checking on the web, and Word documents in Canvas.  

 

 

Helen Berlie
Helen Berlie, Pharm.D.

Helen Berlie

Associate professor (clinical), Eugene Applebaum College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences 

Berlie will create a process for tackling curricular overload in the doctor of pharmacy program. 

 

To learn more about the 2024-25 ALA cohort and their projects, please visit provost.wayne.edu/academic-personnel/professional-development/leadership/academy

For more information about professional development for academic personnel, go to provost.wayne.edu/academic-personnel/professional-development.  

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