The UW’s 2026–2027 Big Ten Academic Alliance Leadership Institute Fellows
Twelve UW faculty and academic leaders will join the Big Ten Academic Alliance’s flagship leadership programs, growing as individuals so they can better serve their students, their colleagues, and their communities.
Behind every thriving university are people: faculty who mentor students through uncertainty, department chairs who create conditions for discovery, and deans who make decisions that shape the lives of thousands. When those people grow as leaders, everyone around them benefits. That belief is at the heart of the University of Washington’s investment in the 2026–2027 Big Ten Academic Alliance (BTAA) Leadership Institute, which will bring together twelve UW faculty and administrators across three distinct programs.
The UW’s membership in the Big Ten Conference has opened many doors, but perhaps none more valuable than access to the Big Ten Academic Alliance, the nation’s oldest and most productive academic consortium. Through the BTAA, the UW joins peer institutions in sharing resources, deepening research collaborations, and, critically, investing in the human infrastructure that makes a university truly great. The BTAA Leadership Institute is one of the clearest expressions of that investment: a set of programs designed not just to develop administrators, but to develop people who lead with clarity, purpose, and a genuine commitment to those they serve.
The participants selected for this year’s cohort come from across the UW’s three campuses and represent the full spectrum of academic leadership, from faculty stepping into university-wide governance roles, to newly appointed department chairs learning to support their colleagues, to deans setting the direction for entire colleges. What they share is a commitment to doing that work well, and a recognition that good leadership, the kind that genuinely moves students and communities forward, is something that must be actively cultivated.
About the Programs
The Leadership Institute is comprised of three targeted programs:
Academic Leadership Program (ALP): An intensive year-long program that develops leadership and managerial skills and provides faculty, including those in administrative roles, with a broader understanding of university-level academic administration and its complexities.
Department Executive Officer Program (DEO): A hybrid program designed for recently appointed department heads and chairs, focusing on key skills such as conflict resolution, communication, faculty development, performance reviews, and collaborative problem-solving.
Deans Leadership Program (DLP): A six-month intensive program designed for newly appointed deans, addressing the critical challenges and decisions that arise in the early stages of a dean’s tenure.
Academic Leadership Program Fellows
Five faculty members have been selected to represent the UW in the year-long Academic Leadership Program. Their scholarship spans disciplines from art history to electrical engineering, and their leadership roles reflect the breadth of the university’s academic community:
Dr. Adair Rounthwaite
Professor and Chair, Division of Art History | College of Arts & Sciences
A specialist in contemporary art with a focus on participatory art, performance, digital humanities, and the relationship between art and urban space, Dr. Rounthwaite brings a richly interdisciplinary perspective to her leadership role as Chair of the Division of Art History in the School of Art + Art History + Design. Her participation in the ALP will support her continued growth as a faculty leader and contributor to the university’s academic community.
Dr. Rania Hussein
Teaching Professor and Chair-Elect, UW Faculty Senate | Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering, College of Engineering
As a Teaching Professor in the Department of Electrical & Computer Engineering and the incoming Chair of the UW Faculty Senate, Dr. Hussein occupies a pivotal role in shaping shared governance at the university. Her commitment to faculty engagement and institutional leadership makes her an ideal participant in the ALP, which will equip her with the strategic skills and peer networks essential to her upcoming role.
Dr. Wadiya Udell
Professor of Psychology and Associate Vice Chancellor for Faculty Success | UW Bothell
Dr. Udell has been a member of the UW Bothell faculty since 2006 and stepped into her executive leadership role as Associate Vice Chancellor for Faculty Success in June 2024. In this capacity, she leads the Office of Faculty Success, working to support and advance faculty across the campus. The ALP will further develop her capacity to champion faculty well-being and institutional excellence at UW Bothell.
Dr. Joyce Dinglasan-Panlilio
Associate Professor of Chemistry and Associate Dean of Programs, Operations, and Student Engagement | School of Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences, UW Tacoma
Dr. Dinglasan-Panlilio brings expertise in chemistry and a strong record of administrative leadership to her dual role at UW Tacoma. As Associate Dean within the School of Interdisciplinary Arts and Sciences, she oversees programs, operations, and student engagement in work that sits at the intersection of academic quality and student success. Her participation in the ALP will strengthen her leadership toolkit as she continues to advance the mission of UW Tacoma.
Dr. Joseph T. Tennis
Professor and Chair, iSchool Elected Faculty Council | Information School
A scholar of classification theory, knowledge organization, and the ethics of information structuring, Professor Tennis brings both intellectual rigor and a commitment to shared governance to his role as Chair of the Information School’s Elected Faculty Council. His engagement with the ALP will deepen his capacity for institutional leadership and cross-institutional collaboration within the Alliance.
Department Executive Officer Program Participants
Five recently appointed department chairs have been selected to participate in the Department Executive Officer Program. This cohort brings together leaders from across the health sciences, education, and the natural sciences:
Dr. Alvin Wee
Professor and Chair, Department of Restorative Dentistry | School of Dentistry
Dr. Wee is a tenured Professor, Department Chair, and holder of the Washington Dental Service Endowed Chair in Dentistry at the UW School of Dentistry. The DEO Program will support him in honing the leadership and management skills central to his role as a newly appointed department chair.
Dr. June Spector
Professor and Chair, Department of Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences | School of Public Health
Dr. Spector leads the Department of Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences at the UW School of Public Health, overseeing a department at the forefront of research on workplace safety, environmental exposures, and health equity. The DEO Program will support her continued development as a department leader.
Dr. Maitreya Dunham
Professor and Chair, Department of Genome Sciences | School of Medicine
An acclaimed geneticist whose pioneering research addresses genome evolution and genetic variation, Dr. Dunham leads the Department of Genome Sciences at the UW School of Medicine. Her participation in the DEO Program will complement her scientific leadership with the organizational and managerial skills essential to effective department administration.
Dr. Pamela Kohler
Professor and Chair, Department of Child, Family & Population Health Nursing | School of Nursing
Dr. Kohler serves as the permanent Chair of the Department of Child, Family, and Population Health Nursing and holds a joint appointment in the Department of Global Health. A former co-director of the UW Center for Global Health Nursing, her global perspective and commitment to public health inform her leadership at the School of Nursing. The DEO Program will further support her in this role.
Dr. Kristen Missall
Professor, Area Chair, and Executive Program Director | College of Education
Dr. Missall chairs the Special Education, School Psychology, and Measurement & Statistics academic area at the UW College of Education and directs the UW School Psychology Program. Her dual role as an academic administrator and program director reflects a broad leadership portfolio, which the DEO Program is designed to strengthen.
Deans Leadership Program Participants
Two newly appointed deans will participate in the Deans Leadership Program, a six-month intensive designed to address the challenges of leading at the college level:
Dr. Joel Thornton
Maggie Walker Dean and Professor of Atmospheric and Climate Science | College of the Environment
Dr. Thornton leads the College of the Environment as its Maggie Walker Dean, bringing scientific expertise in atmospheric and climate science to one of the university’s most mission-critical colleges. The DLP will equip him with the leadership frameworks and peer connections to navigate the distinctive demands of the deanship during this critical period for environmental scholarship and policy.
Dr. Ken Yocom
John and Rosalind Jacobi Family Endowed Dean and Professor | College of Built Environments
As the John and Rosalind Jacobi Family Endowed Dean of the College of Built Environments, Dr. Yocom leads a college at the intersection of design, planning, and the built world. His participation in the DLP will provide him with strategic tools and a cross-institutional peer network as he guides the college through its next chapter.
A Strategic Investment in Leadership
The Office for Academic Personnel and Faculty extends its congratulations to all twelve participants in the 2026–2027 BTAA Leadership Institute. Their selection reflects both individual achievement and the university’s commitment to investing in the leaders who will shape the UW’s future.
Through the Academic Leadership Program, the Department Executive Officer Program, and the Deans Leadership Program, these faculty and administrators will build the skills, perspectives, and networks needed to lead effectively in an era of rapid change in higher education. Their engagement with peers across the Big Ten Academic Alliance will bring valuable insights back to the UW, enriching not only their own leadership practice but the entire institution.
Learn more about the Big Ten Academic Alliance Leadership Institute and its programs.