Fernanda Leite, associate professor in the Department of Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering, was named a fellow of the IAspire Leadership Academy, a leadership program aimed at helping STEM faculty from underrepresented backgrounds ascend to leadership roles at colleges and universities. The program, which is part of the Aspire Alliance’s Institutional Change Initiative, helps address the national need to broaden diversity and increase inclusion in STEM fields and higher education leadership.
“As part of the inaugural cohort of IAspire Leadership Academy fellows, Fernanda has distinguished herself as a leader in STEM and we’re thrilled to have her as a participant,” said Howard Gobstein, co-director of the Aspire Alliance and executive vice president at the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities. “Diversity starts with faculty and university leadership, and this academy will help cultivate inclusion and diversity in the next generation of university faculty and leaders.”
Backed by the National Science Foundation, IAspire provides professional development for academic leaders from underrepresented groups so they can aspire to and succeed in more senior leadership roles. Throughout the course of the one-year fellowship, Leite will learn effective executive leadership skills for increasingly complex higher education environments as well as how to build confidence to influence institutional transformation in current and future leadership positions.
Nearly 60 faculty members in STEM fields at two- and four-year institutions across the country applied for IAspire fellowships. The 20 participating faculty and administrators were selected through a competitive, holistic review of their applications.
Leite’s election to the academy is one example of efforts throughout the Cockrell School to improve diversity and inclusion. Earlier this year, the school developed a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Plan.
