Butler Center, ACE-Women’s Network of Indiana to hold leadership conference

The third annual leadership conference of the ACE-Women’s Network of Indiana, co-sponsored by the Susan Bulkeley Butler Center for Leadership Excellence, will be held April 22 in a live virtual format.

The conference, titled “Approaching Leadership Challenges Confidently and Passionately,” will provide an opportunity for faculty members in colleges and universities in Indiana to network with statewide higher education professionals and hear leadership lessons from senior women leaders.

Introductory remarks will be made by Mangala Subramaniam, professor, Butler Center Chair and center director, and state co-director of the ACE Women’s Network of Indiana. Jay Akridge, Purdue provost and executive vice president for academic affairs and diversity, will provide opening remarks.

The conference will have the following sessions:

* Session 1: Inclusive Leadership with Charlene Alexander, chief strategy officer, Ball State University; Karen L. Dace, vice chancellor for diversity, equity and inclusion, Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis. Moderator: Kristin Champa, vice president for advancement, Christian Theological Seminary, Indianapolis.

* Keynote address: “Extraordinary YOU: The Three Pillars of Power” by Holly Dowling, award-winning speaker and inspirational thought leader. Leaders often struggle with maximizing organization success while remaining cognizant of their personal values and goals. Dowling will share how attendees can tap into their own personal “magic” to stay true to their vision of the future. Using “The Three Pillars of Power,” attendees will learn to craft their own personal vision, stand up for what they want and get better at doing it. This will not only benefit attendees as individuals but also help them find their unique fit within their organization.

* Roundtable Discussion: Networking session about leadership. Kyndra Haggard, associate director, Career Center, Ball State University; Dina Mansour-Cole, associate professor in the Department of Organizational Leadership, Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne; Stephanie Moran, director of engagement and adult learning, Anderson University; Linh Nguyen Littleford, professor and interim chairperson in the Department of Psychological Science, Ball State University; LaMonica Williams, clinical assistant professor of educational leadership and policy studies, Purdue. Moderator: Kyndra Haggard, associate director, Career Center, Ball State University.

Following the conference, a workshop on "Upward Spiral: Evidence-based and Practical Tips for Building Wellness" will be conducted by Kelly LeMaire, clinical assistant professor, assistant director of the Purdue Psychology Treatment and Research Clinics and co-director of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Science Consortium. Moderated by Subramaniam, the hour-long workshop will include information, practical tips and a few experiential practices for building wellness in daily life.

The conference is free for Purdue faculty. The registration link and additional information, including the conference schedule, is available on the conference website. Registration is required.