Chair Development is Leadership Development.
About the Clemson Chair Academy
The Clemson Chair Academy (CCA) provides high-quality, customized leadership development that strengthens awareness, skills, and institutional understanding while fostering well-being and connection for department chairs at all career stages.
We fulfill our mission through a combination of instructional and experiential learning activities delivered by experts and proven university leaders via intensive programs, competency-based workshops, and communities of practice.
The CCA is a true partnership between the President's Office, the Office of the Provost, our academic deans, and so many collaborators and contributors across the University.
"This initiative is a key step in Clemson’s commitment to leadership development while fostering a collaborative and supportive environment for our academic leaders."
Clemson University Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs and Provost Robert H. Jones
Clemson Chair Academy Programs
New Chair Onboarding
New Chair Onboarding (NCO) is a nine-month, cohort-based intensive program designed to support faculty as they transition into their roles as academic leaders at Clemson.
Each monthly session focuses on foundational elements of leading a department at Clemson, University values and history, mission-critical systems and processes, and practical advice that can assist both individuals and programs as they plan and prepare for the demands of the moment.
The NCO curriculum follows the academic calendar and aligns core academic operations and activities with institutional priorities. Experts and proven university leaders facilitate highly interactive sessions to help new and emerging chairs hone their leadership skills and styles.
New Chair Onboarding Mentoring Circles
Beginning in 2025, and during each NCO monthly session, cohort members will participate in mentoring circles, a peer-to-peer learning format where Success Coaches (mentors) meet with a small group of NCO participants (mentees) to discuss shared interests, passions or challenges, learn from each other, and receive guidance, support, and encouragement to help mentees successfully transition into their new leadership roles.
Success Coaches (exemplary academic leaders nominated by their college dean) will share knowledge and experiences, facilitate small group discussions, and help foster connections among NCO participants, promoting mutual learning and growth within the circle.
Competency-Based Leadership Workshops
The CCA offers a variety of leadership workshops for department chairs at all levels. These workshops focus on developing trust, demonstrating resilience in the face of adversity, change management, communication savvy, data acumen, and well-being.
Leadership workshops are data-informed and tailored to address the diverse needs of department chairs as well as current and emerging challenges.
In-person workshops are offered monthly from September through April on Clemson's main campus. While the workshops take place on campus, they may include such virtual components as pre-workshop preparation work and post-workshop follow-up.
Created and delivered by scholars and proven university leaders, department chairs will gain a deeper understanding of how to close the gap between their leadership goals and what they can ultimately deliver.
2025-26 Leadership Workshops
Data Acumen & Literacy Series
The Data Acumen and Literacy series is designed to promote consistent communication and transparency between central administration and academic leaders to maximize the value of institutional data assets while managing associated risks.
This series will create opportunities for learning, feedback, and reactions from participants to better understand the impact of useful data processes and sources.
The overall goal is to empower academic leaders to make timely and relevant data-informed decisions to elevate their academic departments.
Note: This competency-based leadership workshop series for AY 2025-26 is postponed until Spring 2026.
Team Design & Collaboration Series
The Team Design and Collaboration series focuses on how leaders can design teams and build trust within their departments.
Academic leaders will learn best practices in giving and getting feedback, identifying shared values and mental models, finding balance between personal connections and boundaries, resolving conflict in the moment, and how to build emotional intelligence.
Note: This competency-based leadership workshop series for AY 2025-26 is postponed until Spring 2026.
Strategic Communication & Storytelling Series
The Strategic Communication and Storytelling series is designed to teach chairs how to use data for storytelling to diverse audiences, how to communicate with intentionality, frequency and precision, and how to engage with disagreement in a way that models civil discourse.
Series participants will be able to articulate a clear vision and mission for their units, and convey the value of the unit and its people to various stakeholder groups. Participants will also be able to contextualize communication within emotional, moral, ethical, legal/regulatory, or historical considerations.
Note: This competency-based leadership workshop series for AY 2025-26 is postponed until Spring 2026.
Well-Being Series
Mental Health and Well-being has been identified as a top institutional risk that impacts multiple areas of university life and our ability to succeed with Clemson Elevate.
The Well-Being series focuses on how chairs can advance a culture of student, staff, faculty, and community well-being.
Participants will develop well-being skills and tools, encourage a proactive approach to mental health and safety, and foster a sense of belonging.
Note: This competency-based leadership workshop series for AY 2025-26 is postponed until Spring 2026.
2025-26 Communities of Practice
For You, By You
One of the ways the Clemson Chair Academy strengthens trust, reduces isolation, and boosts workplace morale is through Communities of Practice (CoPs). CoPs are groups of academic leaders who share a common concern, a passion for something they do, and who interact regularly to learn how to do it better.
CoPs are formed by department chairs and for department chairs. They are knowledge-sharing networks, either face-to-face or virtual, focused on a specific concern or passion. They foster learning, collaboration, and the development of a shared repertoire of practices, tools, and knowledge.
CoPs empower leaders with the space, pace, and place to dig deeper into specific policies, practices, and issues for departmental and institutional success.
To form a CoP or to learn more about CoPs, please contact the Clemson Chair Academy at clemsonchair@clemson.edu.
Leading from the Middle is a Top Priority at Clemson.
Clemson Chair Academy Summary
- Chair development is leadership development.
- The Clemson Chair Academy (CCA) is leadership development for all chairs at all levels.
- New Chair Onboarding (NCO) is an intensive, cohort-based nine-month program for new and emerging chairs.
- Competency-based leadership workshops are offered monthly beginning Spring 2026 for all chairs at all levels.
- Communities of Practice (CoPs) are formed by chairs for chairs (at any and all levels), and they foster learning, collaboration, and the development of a shared set of tools to tackle common challenges.
Clemson Chair Academy Contact Information:
Email: clemsonchair@clemson.edu
Contact: Tia N. Dumas, Ph.D., Associate Vice President for Strategic Alliances, Office of the Provost
Contact: Julie T. Pickett, Executive Assistant & Office Manager, Office of the Provost
Credits:
Clemson Chair Academy, Clemson University