Business professor one of 10 KU faculty selected for 2025-26 Senior Administrative Fellows

LAWRENCE — A signature University of Kansas program with a commitment to faculty development has announced its newest cohort. The Senior Administrative Fellows Program, which began in 1993, cultivates the leadership skills and organizational know-how of tenured faculty through a yearlong exploration and mentoring curriculum. 

Ten KU faculty members have been selected to participate in the Senior Administrative Fellows Program for the 2025-2026 academic year. 

This year’s participants: 

• Carissa Cascio, professor of psychology and senior scientist at the KU Life Span Institute 
• Claudia Dozier, professor and chair of applied behavioral science
• Scott Hefty, professor and chair of molecular biosciences 
• Ward Lyles, professor of urban planning and Indigenous studies
• Ashley Muddiman, associate professor of communication studies 
• Markus Potter, artistic director and associate professor of theatre & dance
• Panying Rong, associate professor of speech-language-hearing
• Arvind Tripathi, professor of business 
• Nilou Vakil, associate professor of architecture
• Amber Watts, associate professor of psychology.

“The Senior Administrative Fellows Program provides a forum for our faculty to explore academic leadership with others from across campus who are also actively considering how they might contribute to leadership," said Amy Mendenhall, vice provost for faculty affairs and a past senior administrative fellow. “By meeting and hearing from a range of campus administrative leaders, the fellows gain a valuable and broad perspective on how various leadership roles function in a major, public research university.” 

The program is led by Mary Banwart, associate vice provost for faculty development, mentoring and growth. The class of fellows is selected from applications and nominations solicited in the spring semester of the previous academic year. 

“Senior Administrative Fellows is designed to help us meet our mission of growing faculty leadership in the development of an exceptional learning community,” Banwart said. “By hearing from administrators, developing their leadership skills and capacities, and networking and developing connections across the university, SAFs prepares our faculty leaders to make a meaningful impact in their departments, units and across KU.” 

The Senior Administrative Fellows Program has an established record of success. Many participants have gone on to lead programs at KU and elsewhere. More information on this year’s participants is available online. 

Several current and former presidents/chancellors, provosts, vice provosts, deans, associate deans, interim deans and chairs and directors at KU have participated in the program. Applications for the 2026-2027 cycle will open in early spring.