Georgian Court University’s Janice Warner, Ph.D., dean of the GCU School of Business and Digital Media, is one of 30 higher education administrators nationwide selected for the Council of Independent Colleges’ (CIC) 2016–2017 Senior Leadership Academy.
Individuals chosen for the yearlong program are administrators or faculty leaders identified by their institutions as having the potential for senior leadership in independent colleges or universities. Dr. Warner will participate in an opening seminar in New Orleans, November 4–6, 2016, and a closing seminar in Washington, D.C., June 22–24, 2017. She also will undertake a mentoring program, work with experts in various aspects of higher education administration, participate in webinars, engage in a series of readings and case studies during the academic year, and follow a professional experiential plan to “fill the gaps” needed for career advancement.
The academy is designed to prepare prospective leaders to assume positions as the chief officers in any division—including academic affairs, student affairs, finance, enrollment management, and advancement—in independent higher education.
“The need to prepare future leaders of colleges and universities has never been greater because the generation of people now in senior leadership positions on campus is rapidly approaching retirement,” said CIC President Richard Ekman. “Competition for the available places in the program was intense, and the review committee found the nomination materials to be most impressive. They (and I) believe that Janice Warner has the potential for highly effective leadership in a position of senior responsibility on campus.”
In addition to leading the GCU School of Business and Digital Media, Dr. Warner teaches various classes in strategy, e-commerce, business statistics and probability, management decision-making, project management and information systems. During her tenure as dean, the business school enrollment has grown, and its name was changed in 2015 to better reflect the critical nature of communication in today’s business environment. The school also opened its International Collaboration Center and launched partnerships with university business programs in London, Bhutan, Tanzania, and other countries.
Dr. Warner’s research interests include business analytics, strategic use of technology in management, and higher education pedagogy for business. She is on GCU’s Global Transformation Initiative Committee and is a Monmouth Ocean Development Council representative and board member. She is also a Lakewood Chamber of Commerce representative and board member. She earned a B.S. and M.S. in Electrical Engineering from Columbia University and an M.B.A. and Ph.D. in Management from Rutgers University.
“I am thankful that Georgian Court continually supports my growth and development as an academic leader. Being part of the continued growth and improvement of Georgian Court is a fulfilling experience,” she said.
The CIC leadership program has a history of helping campus administrators achieve greater success. Sixty-one percent of participants in the first Senior Leadership Academy cohort (2010–2011) have advanced in their careers, and 19 percent of participants in the most recently completed cohort (2014–2015) already have earned more advanced positions.
“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,” Mr. Ekman said.
The academy is co-sponsored by CIC and the American Academic Leadership Institute (AALI). Tom Kepple, president of AALI and president emeritus of Juniata College (PA), is the program director. Visit www.cic.edu/SeniorLeadershipAcademy for more information.
About the Senior Leadership Academy sponsors
The Council of Independent Colleges is an association of 765 nonprofit independent colleges and universities and higher education affiliates and organizations that has worked since 1956 to support college and university leadership, advance institutional excellence, and enhance public understanding of private higher education’s contributions to society. CIC is the major national organization that focuses on providing services to leaders of independent colleges and universities as well as conferences, seminars, and other programs that help institutions to improve educational quality, administrative and financial performance, and institutional visibility. CIC conducts the largest annual conferences of college and university presidents and of chief academic officers. CIC also provides support to state fundraising associations that organize programs and generate contributions for private colleges and universities. The Council is headquartered at One Dupont Circle in Washington, DC.
The American Academic Leadership Institute provides leadership identification and development programs across all sectors of public and private higher education. AALI creates and implements programs and assistance for academic leaders in various administrative positions enabling them to be successful in their roles and to advance the institutions they serve. In addition, AALI supports research and publications and consults with academic leaders and boards of trustees concerning traditional and emerging issues facing higher education and its governance. Headquartered in Washington, DC, AALI and its predecessor organizations have participated in the advancement of higher education for over 30 years. A subsidiary of AALI, Academic Search Inc. (ASI), one of the nation’s premier search firms since 1976, provides significant funds each year to support AALI leadership development programs. The ASI subsidy allows AALI programs to be offered at a comparatively low price.
Story contributed by GCU business major Sebastian Mikuska ’16, an intern in the GCU Office of Marketing & Communications.
