A Fayetteville State University department chair was selected to participate in the American Association of State Colleges and Universities’ inaugural Department Chair Leadership Institute.

Ji Young Kim, Ph.D, associate professor and English department chair, is a member of the first cohort of the AASCU’s new leadership development institute for higher education department chairs. The experience is highlighted by a two-day, in-person intensive program in Washington, D.C., with academic unit leaders from across the nation. The institute also provides other virtual engagements and networking opportunities throughout the academic semester.

“Gathering with other department chairs [in] Washington inspired me to continue furthering the path to equitable student success in the English Department,” said Kim in a press release. “This experience will provide strategies to overcome challenges and empower me to be a more equity-minded chair and provide insight to other academic departments at FSU.” 

The Department Chair Leadership Institute is designed for current department chairs who serve at state colleges and universities and aspire to be dynamic, strategic and empathetic leaders. Participants gain a national perspective on the importance of the department chair in serving the institutional mission, leading with an equity mindset, delivering value and ensuring student success.

Kim’s FSU career spans 22 years, serving as Department Chair of English: Literature, Teaching, Pre-Law and Creative & Professional Writing for seven years. She’s been involved in various research projects to improve academic progress and global access for students from underrepresented populations, international cultural exchange programs and the UNC-China project. She received her doctorate education at the University of Mississippi focused on teaching English to individuals that speak other languages.