Mariselle Meléndez, professor of Spanish and interim associate director of the School of Literatures, Cultures & Linguistics, has been chosen by the Office of the Provost to be a 2022-2023 fellow in the Big Ten Academic Alliance (BTAA) Academic Leadership Program.
Only five professors from each Big Ten campus are chosen for this program, which aims to develop the leadership potential of participating faculty, with particular emphasis on enriching the diversity of leadership in BTAA institutions.
As a fellow, Meléndez is attending monthly meetings with various campus administrators such as the Provost, the Vice Chancellor for Advancement, the Vice Chancellor for Research and Innovation, the Vice-Chancellor for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, and other key campus leaders. She is also attending sessions at other BTAA institutions, such as the University of Nebraska, and discussing topics including critical challenges in higher education, identifying and understanding leadership styles and preferences, freedom of expression and academic freedom, and partnership and collaborations in answer to COVID-19 crisis response.
Meléndez said as a fellow, she hopes to keep developing her leadership potential, but she’s also looking at the bigger picture.
“I hope to learn more about the pressing issues facing higher education, and in particular, efforts in expanding diversity, equity, and inclusion practices in and outside of the classroom,” she said.
Dania De La Hoya Rojas, Department of Spanish & Portuguese