ACC Academic Leaders Network
What is the ACC-ALN?
The ACC-ALN, Atlantic Coast Conference Academic Leaders Network, is a leadership program hosted collectively by ACC universities and sponsored by ACC Provosts with the goals of building internal leadership capacity, diversifying the leadership pool, facilitating succession planning, and developing internal networks and collaborations. The program consists of three on-site sessions over the course of the calendar year, each hosted at a different participating university campus. These sessions are designed to build academic leadership awareness and effectiveness in the context of higher education and facilitate conversations over a range of topics that support leadership growth in key areas across multiple spheres of influence.
Through this program, academic leaders can further their knowledge of interpersonal leadership styles, build equity-minded leadership capacity, and develop their ability to lead and navigate complex challenges in higher education in a setting that provides exposure to multiple disciplines, organizational roles and structures from a variety of institutions. Faculty in the ACC ALN have an opportunity to grow in community with other academic leaders from Wake Forest as well as build relationships and network with representatives from other ACC institutions.
The ACC Academic Leaders Network builds upon existing campus programs by creating distinctive learning opportunities while capitalizing on networking and collaborative opportunities to further develop our leaders along a range of dimensions, in ways that no single university can accomplish on its own.
Wake Forest University’s 2025 ACC ALN cohort of faculty leaders:
- 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
Interested in Participating?
The ACC ALN seeks faculty participants who have received some foundational leadership training and who have 1-2 years experience in their current leadership role.
Academic leaders interested in joining a future cohort of the ACC-ALN are encouraged to reach out to their Dean or Associate Provost Anne Hardcastle at hardcaae@wfu.edu for more information.
Nominations for the 2026 ACC ALN should include a CV and letter of support from the nominee’s supervisor or school dean to be submitted to Associate Provost Anne Hardcastle by December 1.
Past Cohorts
- Rebecca Alexander, Professor of Chemistry, Associate Dean for Research and Community Engagement, College
- Chris Coughlin, Professor of Law, School of Law
- Kenny Herbst, Associate Professor of Marketing, Associate Dean for the Undergraduate Business Program, School of Business
- Matthew Phillips, Teaching Professor of Business Law and Ethics, Associate Provost for Strategic Initiatives, Provost’s Office
- Rodrigo Castro, Director of Public Services, ZSR Library
- Amanda Griffith, Professor of Economics and department chair and Associate Dean for Academic Planning, College
- Kevin Jung, Professor of Theological Ethics and Moral Philosophy and Associate Dean of Academic Affairs, School of Divinity
- Tanya Marsh, Professor of Law and Senior Associate Dean, School of Law
- Jennifer Rogers, Associate Professor of Counseling and Associate Dean for Students, Graduate School of Arts & Sciences
- Molly Keener, Director of Digital Initiatives and Scholarly Communication, ZSR Library
- Norma Montague, Senior Associate Dean, MS in Management Program, School of Business
- Shonda Jones, Executive Director of Academic Programs, School of Professional Studies
- David F. Taylor, Assistant Dean for Global Study Away, Office of Global Programs and Studies
- Anne Hardcastle, Associate Dean for Academic Planning, College
- José Villalba, Vice President for Diversity and Inclusion, Chief Diversity Officer
- Mark Evans, Associate Dean of the Undergraduate Program, School of Business
- Anthony Marsh, Senior Associate Dean of Faculty, College
- Erica Still, Associate Dean for Faculty Recruitment, Diversity and Inclusion, College
- Ashley Hairston, Associate Dean for Academic Advising, College
- Michelle Roehm, Vice Dean, School of Business
- Simone Rose, Associate Dean of Innovation and Entrepreneurship, School of Law
*The program was suspended due to COVID in 2020 and 2021.