Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs and Diversity | September 2023

Faculty Transformational Leadership Institute (FTLI) - Spring 2024

Applications will open September 1 for this cohort-based faculty leadership program. FTLI is open to tenured and mid-career teaching, research, and practice faculty who currently serve or aspire to serve in administrative or academic leadership positions on the Danforth Campus. It will offer skill development in critical leadership areas and encourage professional networking for faculty across disciplines. FTLI will run from January to April 2024 with half-day sessions (8:30 a.m.–1 p.m.) each month focused on effective and transformational leadership practices. More details and application information are available here.

Fall Faculty Development Programming

Keep an eye out for registration for three faculty development series focused on Work/Life Balance, Promotion Requirements and Timelines, and Cultivating Mentors and Sponsors to be hosted in late fall (October/November) and the Spring (February/March). Focused on supporting junior and mid-career faculty on all faculty lines (teaching, research, practice and tenure), these large- and small-group sessions will be sure to support you in reaching your career goals at WashU! 

Listening and Learning Sessions on Mentorship

The Danforth Task Force on Climate and Culture has contracted with an external assessment agency, WestEd, to speak with graduate and professional students, postdoctoral scholars, and Danforth campus faculty and staff to understand their current experiences and potential areas for improvement. The WestEd team will be visiting WashU on October 3–4, 2023, to conduct listening and learning sessions for the community to share and listen to others’ experiences as they relate to mentoring, advising and support for graduate and professional students and postdocs. more information

The William H. Danforth St. Louis Confluence Award (STLCA) Application is Open

Designed to elevate WashU’s investment in the St. Louis Region, the STLCA honors and recognizes faculty members for ongoing and completed research that focuses on interdisciplinary community-engaged research that exemplifies impact, innovation, and deep engagement with the region.A $50,000 cash prize is given in recognition of faculty research initiatives. The awardee has the opportunity to present their research, receive award, and celebrate among their colleagues and community in April 2024. more information

WashU is Now a Member of the Association for Women in Science (AWIS)

Washington University is a member of the Association for Women in Science (AWIS), supporting a global network of like-minded women and allies committed to advancing women in science, technology, engineering, and math. As an Institutional Member, WashU is pleased to offer free membership to all students, faculty, staff, postdocs, and trainees. learn more about your free membership

She Leads Symposium @ WashU Create + Collaborate

Emerson Auditorium/Frick Forum

October 20 (9 a.m – 3 p.m.)

The Olin Fellowship at WashU is hosting its annual conference, to empower women to lead at the highest levels of society. The symposium ties together the values of leadership, impact through service, inclusion, and integrity. The day will end with a keynote address by Tatum Getty (WashU ’04), who has helped shape the health and wellness sector in both the USA and the UK through marketing, public relations, sales, and brand management positions with companies such as SoulCycle, Barry’s Bootcamp, and Tonal.

Faculty Mentoring Summit

Knight Center, Danforth Campus

October 27, 2023

(8:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.)

WashU faculty are invited to attend this immersive, full-day event sponsored by the Office of the Provost. The Mentoring Summit will include mentoring workshops designed by the Center for the Improvement of Mentored Experience in Research (CIMER). The summit will begin with a keynote address by Melissa McDaniels, associate executive director and scientist at CIMER. Space is limited, so early registration is encouraged! 

WashU Opportunities

• Association for Women Faculty (AWF): Join the AWF the first Friday of every month for happy hour (3:30–5 p.m.) at the Bear Public House in the Knight Center (Danforth Campus).

• Consultation Hours Available: Consultation Hours on equity-centered work on faculty searches and graduate admissions with Aurora Kamimura, Assistant Provost for Inclusive Excellence, starting on September 13, 2023. please sign up for a meeting time here

• Noche de Cultura: Hispanic Heritage History Month at WashU is starting with a 2-day event! Friday September 15 (5–8 p.m.) and Saturday September 16 (2–5 p.m.) in Tisch Commons. Friday's program includes Food, Fashion and Culture, as well as tabling from all Latinx student organizations. more information

• St. Louis Symphony on the South 40: This special collaboration will take place outside on the South 40 (near Bear's Den). Members of the St. Louis Symphony will follow a string ensemble comprised of WashU Music students. This event is free, family-friendly, and open to the public! September 18, 2023 (5:30 p.m.)

• Latiné Heritage Month Event with Benjamin Garcia: Celebrate at The Cortex (4220 Duncan Avenue, Saint Louis, MO 63110). Wednesday, September 27, 2023, (5–6 p.m.) more information

• Mindfulness Day: WashU’s first ever Mindfulness Day is October 4 and includes a daylong exploration of modern and traditional mindfulness practices. more information and registration

• “Community as Rebellion” with Dr. Lorgia García Peña: Featuring Lorgia García Peña, professor of Latinx studies at Princeton University and author of “Community as Rebellion: A Syllabus for Surviving Academia as a Woman of Color” – Annual McLeod Lecture on Higher Education. Wednesday, October 4 (4 p.m.) - register for in-person or virtual event

• Application Open for the Distinguished Visiting Scholars Program: The Distinguished Visiting Scholars Program brings to Washington University individuals from underrepresented backgrounds who have distinguished themselves as leaders and innovators in the academy, business, or in other fields of endeavor. Learn more and apply to the program here.



Opportunities Outside WashU

• Call for Applications - 2023 Mellon/Scholars at Risk (SAR) Academic Freedom Fellowship: The program is made possible by generous support from the Mellon Foundation, and is intended for early career researchers investigating issues about or related to academic freedom (PhD within the last 8 years, ABD researchers may be considered in limited cases.) Five fellows will receive an ~$8,000 stipend to support their work over the course of the eight-month program, as well as participate in monthly meetings that aim to foster a professional and collaborative community of researchers working on academic freedom issues. Deadline to apply is September 20, 2023. more information

• The Berlin Prize Call for Applications: The American Academy in Berlin invites applications for its residential fellowships for the academic year 2024–25. The Academy seeks to enrich transatlantic discussion in the arts, humanities, social sciences, and public policy through the development and communication of projects of the highest merit. Fellowships are typically awarded for an academic semester, but shorter stays of six to eight weeks are also possible. Applications are due September 29, 2023. more information

• National Humanities Center (NHC) Residential Fellowships Call for Applications: Each year the center awards up to 40 fellowships to scholars of demonstrated achievement and to promising younger scholars. Fellows are expected to work in the center’s North Carolina facility during their semester- or yearlong fellowship. Candidates should have earned a PhD in a humanities discipline at least five years prior to applying for a fellowship. Mid-career and senior scholars from all areas of the humanities and the interpretive social sciences may apply; emerging scholars with a strong record of peer-reviewed work are also encouraged to apply. Applications due October 5.

• St. Louis Racial Equity Summit: The summit is a platform to build awareness of inequity, to provide an understanding of why inequity exists, and to transform towards equity. The summit is taking place November 9–11, 2023, at America's Center Convention Complex. more information

Resource Spotlight: NCFDD

WashU is an Institutional Member of National Center for Faculty Development and Diversity (NCFDD), an independent organization that is nationally recognized for its provision of online research productivity, academic mentoring, and career development resources. Through our Institutional Membership, all WashU faculty, graduate students, post-docs, and trainees can enroll in a free Individual Membership. Over 1,000 members of the WashU community have joined NCFDD. We invite you to learn more and enroll in your free membership. A few of the upcoming NCFDD offerings are listed below:

• "Overcoming Academic Perfectionism:" This "live on zoom" event is hosted by the NCFDD. Wednesday September 13, 2023 (1–2:30 p.m.) register here

• NCFDD 14-Day Writing Challenge: Join the focused 14-day program that will enable you to experience the skills and habits that lead to explosive writing productivity. It includes group accountability, coaching and access to NCFDD's WriteNow custom software platform. October 9–22. more information