Wake Forest faculty strengthen leadership and collaboration through ACC ALN

Wake Forest University is deepening its investment in faculty leadership development as it prepares to host the Atlantic Coast Conference Academic Leaders Network (ACC ALN)  conference in March 2025—a first for the University. This leadership program, which brings together faculty from across ACC institutions, is shaping the next generation of academic leaders by fostering collaboration, innovation, and shared problem-solving. Since the program’s inception in 2018, Wake Forest has participated in the ACC ALN as it aims to build internal leadership capacity, diversify the leadership pool, facilitate succession planning, and develop networks and collaborations.

For Wake Forest’s 2024 ACC ALN cohort, the experience was transformative. Wake Forest faculty members Rebecca Alexander, Chris Coughlin, Kenny Herbst, and Matthew Phillips engaged in a yearlong leadership development journey, attending intensive sessions at Clemson University, the University of Louisville, and North Carolina State University. Their participation strengthened Wake Forest’s ties to peer institutions while also bringing fresh perspectives back to campus.

Reflecting on their experience, this past year’s participants underscored the importance of collaboration in higher education leadership:

• “The ACC-ALN was a great experience! Despite the differences between our schools, we all face similar challenges and opportunities, and the chance to strategize with peers was invaluable.”
  – Rebecca Alexander, Professor and Associate Dean for Research and Community Engagement, College
• “The panels, workshops, and group discussions provided invaluable insights. Beyond that, I was able to connect with others navigating the same difficult challenges in higher ed leadership. Learning from best practices elsewhere and bringing back ideas to Wake Forest was a major highlight.”
  – Kenny Herbst, Associate Dean of the Undergraduate Program, Sisel Faculty Fellow, Associate Professor of Marketing, School of Business
• “This program reinforced the importance of character-driven leadership in addressing the complex issues facing higher education today. It also provided incredible networking opportunities that will continue to benefit Wake Forest moving forward.”
  – Christine Coughlin, Professor, School of Law
• “Beyond learning about innovative strategies and leadership development, ACC-ALN offered a firsthand look at how other universities operate—from world-class industry partnerships to unique commitments to academic freedom and inclusive leadership.”
  – Matthew Phillips, Associate Provost for Strategic Initiatives and Teaching Professor of Law & Ethics, School of Business

As Wake Forest prepares to welcome its 2025 ACC ALN cohort, the University is also gearing up to take on a larger role in the program. In March, Wake Forest will welcome more than 100 academic leaders from ACC institutions, providing an opportunity to showcase its distinctive approach to leadership, innovation, and collaboration in higher education.

Congratulations to the following academic leaders who have been selected to represent Wake Forest in the 2025 ACC ALN cohort:

• Rosalind Tedford, Director of Research and Instruction, ZSR Library
• Scott Shafer, Associate Dean of the MSBA Programs and Professor of Management, School of Business
• Nikki Elston, Assistant Dean of Academic Advising and Associate Teaching Professor of Counseling, College
• Keith Robinson, Associate Dean for Research and Professor of Law, School of Law
• Stacie Petter, Associate Provost for Faculty Affairs and Professor of Management Information Systems, School of Business/Provost’s Office

“Programs like the ACC-ALN exemplify our commitment to academic excellence and leadership at Wake Forest,” said Provost Michele Gillespie. “By fostering connections across institutions and providing opportunities for professional growth, the program helps our faculty and administrators bring fresh perspectives and innovative solutions back to our university community at a time in higher ed when imaginative, collaborative problem solving has never been more important.”

Wake Forest University remains committed to investing in the professional growth of its academic leaders and fostering partnerships that advance higher education across institutions. Wake Forest academic leaders interested in joining a future cohort of the ACC ALN are encouraged to contact their Dean or Associate Provost Anne Hardcastle for more information.