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Fearless Unit Leadership

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UMD Fearlessly Forward

Fearless Unit Leadership prepares academic unit heads (department chairs or their equivalent) at the University of Maryland for inclusive, compassionate, and inspiring leadership. Unit heads profoundly shape the experience of those in their departments and thus the university as a whole. They serve as liaisons between university leadership and the faculty, staff, and students who make the University of Maryland a great place to learn, innovate, and tackle grand challenges. New unit heads are faculty members who have built their careers on academic excellence but have the capacity and courage to open themselves up to new challenges. Fearless Leadership offers new unit heads the opportunity to develop strategies for managing unfamiliar demands and to plug into a network of leaders across campus in similar positions.

Fearless Leadership consists of monthly meetings spread over the 2023-24 academic year. The meetings take place over lunch (provided) from 12:00-1:30. (Lunch will be served starting at 11:45.) The meeting dates are September 20, October 25, November 15, December 6, February 22, March 13, and April 17. 

Topics
  • September 20: Leadership and Management
  • October 25: Setting expectations; APT; AEP
  • November 15: Engaging with Conflict
  • December 6: Managing your Department's Budget
  • February 22: Giving and Receiving Feedback
  • March 13: Strategic Planning; Mission; Vision and Values
  • April 17: DEI, Climate, and Belonging

All meetings will be held in person, room TBA.

Fearless Unit Leadership is a collaboration between the Office of Faculty Affairs (OFA) and the Center for Leadership and  Organizational Change (CLOC). Speakers will be drawn from OFA, CLOC, outside experts, and experienced leaders from the University of Maryland.