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N.D. (NewsDakota.com) – University of Jamestown is pleased to announce that Polly Peterson, Executive Vice President, is one of 23 senior-level administrators in higher education nationwide selected by the Council of Independent Colleges (CIC) to participate in the 2016–2017 Executive Leadership Academy.
Individuals chosen for the year-long program are vice presidents or cabinet officers in higher education who may wish to consider a presidency of an independent college or university. Peterson will participate in two seminars in Washington, DC; the opening seminar will take place July 11–13, 2016, and the closing seminar will be held June 19–21, 2017. She also will engage in readings, webinars, and a mentoring program. In addition, she will develop a professional experiential learning plan focused on specific areas of presidential responsibility.
The Academy is intended to help prepare provosts and vice presidents to serve as effective college presidents. “Competition for the available places in the program was intense,” said CIC President Richard Ekman. “The review committee found the nomination materials to be most impressive. They (and I) believe that Polly Peterson has the potential for highly effective leadership as a college or university president.”
Polly Peterson is currently the Executive Vice President responsible for Institutional Advancement and Business Affairs at University of Jamestown. Polly is a CPA and has earned the profession’s specialized designation as a Personal Financial Specialist.
Polly holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree from University of Jamestown majoring in Accounting and Business Administration, a Master in Business Administration (MBA) from Regis University and is anticipating graduation in December, 2016 with a Ph.D. in Higher Education-Institutional Analysis from North Dakota State University. She has been employed with University of Jamestown since 1992, holding positions as Controller, Assistant Professor of Accounting, and is currently the university’s Executive Vice President.
“Polly Peterson has taken a path towards higher levels of administrative responsibilities and educational attainments.” said University of Jamestown President Robert Badal, “This is an opportunity for broader exposure to higher education administration, and her experience will better prepare her for future development as a top-line higher education executive. I am both proud and grateful for all that Polly has contributed to UJ, and now we can be supportive of her professional track to the future. The idea of the lifelong journey is central to UJ, and Polly is an illustration of what we talk to our students about from their arrival on campus.”
Fifty-nine percent of participants in the first Executive Leadership Academy cohort (2009–2010) have since advanced in the higher education ranks, and 34 percent of participants in a recent cohort (2014–2015) have already “moved up” in the ranks. “These indicators suggest that CIC is helping to meet the leadership needs of higher education by offering highly effective leadership development programs for modest fees to member institutions,” Ekman said.
The Academy is co-sponsored by CIC, the American Academic Leadership Institute (AALI), and the American Association of State Colleges and Universities. Tom Kepple, president of AALI and president emeritus of Juniata College (PA), is the program director.
For more information about the Executive Leadership Academy, visit www.cic.edu/ExecutiveLeadershipAcademy.