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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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
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.