82: UMass Lowell Provost Ahmed Abdelal on Building Collaboration from Competition in Academic Leadership

Over the last year, we’ve returned to the topic of administrative and academic collaboration a number of times. Our lesson: successful change projects are the result of academic leaders and administrative leaders working in concert with one another. 

This week we welcome Dr. Ahmed Abdelal, Provost and Chief Academic Officer at UMass Lowell. His work provides a framework for the structure and culture that makes for a collaborative leadership model that transcends competition and gridlock. 

This week on the show, Provost Abdelal joins Howard Teibel and Pete Wright to reflect on his philosophy around academic leadership and his successes in working toward respectful and reciprocal leadership across the institution.

About Ahmed Abdelal

As Provost, Ahmed Abdelal serves as the chief academic officer, overseeing long-term planning, curriculum, instruction, research, outreach and assessment, libraries and academic services. In his role, he is also a member of the Chancellor's Executive Cabinet. Prior to joining UMass Lowell, Abdelal served as Provost of Northeastern University ('02-'08), and Dean of Arts and Sciences at Georgia State University ('92 -'02). 

Notes & Links

• Provost Abdelal references the UMass Lowell 2020 Report Card. You can find the 2014 report here.

Photo: Terageorge

74: The Academic’s View in the Administrative Review at Loyola Maryland Part 2 — Professor Steve Fowl

This week on Navigating Change we continue our three-part series in which we share the administrative and academic review from the inside out. Our second guest is professor Steve Fowl of Loyola University Maryland, and it was under his guidance as co-chair of the "New Way Of Proceeding" committee that deep investigation into institutional operations occurred. Steve’s role as chair of the faculty senate at the time made him the perfect representative in the review process.

This week, Steve shares his insights on the academic and administrative review from the faculty perspective, and how we were able to form a partnership to deliver both financial and cultural benefits to Loyola Maryland.

About Stephen Fowl

Stephen Fowl is professor of theology at Loyola College in Maryland. He holds the Ph.D. from the University of Sheffield (England). He has written several books including Reading in Communion (with L. Gregory Jones), Engaging Scripture and a forthcoming commentary on Philippians. He has edited several volumes including The Theological Interpretation of Scripture. He has written widely on topics in New Testament, ethics and theology. Fowl is an Episcopal layperson.