Shenandoah University is pleased to announce that Miles K. Davis, Ph.D., dean of the Harry F. Byrd, Jr. School of Business, is one of 28 mid-level administrators in higher education nationwide selected by the Council of Independent Colleges (CIC) to participate in a year-long Senior Leadership Academy during the 2015–2016 academic year.
Individuals chosen for the program are administrators in higher education who have been identified by their institutions as having the potential for senior leadership positions in independent colleges or universities. Dr. Davis will undertake a mentoring program, work with experts, participate in seminars and webinars, and engage in a series of readings and case studies.
The Senior Leadership Academy is designed to prepare prospective leaders to assume positions as the chief officers in any division—including academic affairs, student affairs, finance, enrollment management, and advancement—in independent higher education.
“The need to prepare future leaders of colleges and universities has never been greater because the generation of people now in senior leadership positions on campus is rapidly approaching retirement,” said CIC President Richard Ekman.
“Competition for the available places in the program was intense, and the review committee found the nomination materials to be most impressive,” he added. “They (and I) believe that Miles Davis has the potential for highly effective leadership in a position of senior responsibility on campus.”
“I am honored to be chosen to participate in the Senior Leadership Academy,” said Davis. “There is no more important asset that a country has than an educated and informed citizenry. Those who would lead institutions, which take on the task of helping us groom future leaders and innovators, must be prepared to do so. I appreciate the trust and support Shenandoah University demonstrates in recommending me for this incredible learning opportunity.”
Davis is an internationally recognized educator and proven business leader who has nearly 20 years of university teaching experience. He served as the inaugural chair of the management science department at Shenandoah from 2003 to 2005 and was the founding director of the Harry F. Byrd, Jr. School of Business Institute for Entrepreneurship.
As an authority on entrepreneurship, Davis’ most recent work focuses on the areas of integrity, values and principles within the business world, as well as faith-based entrepreneurship. He is also active in helping businesses and organizations with cultural and structural changes, strategic planning, leadership development and strategic growth initiatives. Davis has worked as a managing consultant and principal for EDS Corporation and has consulted for Boeing Corporation and The United States Mint.
Davis is the author of numerous journal articles and the book, “OD and Change Management Consultants: Intangible Fields with Tangible Differences,” published in 2009. He serves on the board of trustees of the Amana Mutual Funds Trust, First National Corporation (FXNC), INOVA Loudoun Hospital, and several other non-profit organizations.
Davis earned a bachelor’s degree in communications from Duquesne University, a master’s degree in human resource development from Bowie State University and a doctorate in organizational behavior and management from The George Washington University.
“Miles Davis has proven himself to be a dedicated and inspirational leader of our business school,” said Shenandoah University’s Vice President for Academic Affairs Adrienne Bloss, Ph.D. “It is evident that his innovative and strategic thinking has taken the school to new heights. He is well deserving of this opportunity, and I look forward to the knowledge and experience he will bring back to the university as a result of his experiences in the Senior Leadership Academy.”
Since the program began in the 2010–2011 academic year, 48 percent of participants who have completed the program have experienced upward mobility. “These indicators suggest that CIC is helping to meet the leadership needs of higher education by offering highly effective leadership development programs for modest fees to member institutions,” Ekman said.
The Academy is co-sponsored by CIC and the American Academic Leadership Institute (AALI). Tom Kepple, president of AALI and president emeritus of Juniata College (PA), is the program director. For more information about the Senior Leadership Academy, visit www.cic.edu/SeniorLeadershipAcademy.
CIC SENIOR LEADERSHIP ACADEMY PARTICIPANTS, 2015–2016
Jesus Alonso, Holy Cross College (IN)
Susan Bane, Barton College (NC)
Aileen Beard, The College of St. Scholastica (MN)
William Carswell, Coker College (SC)
Jon Christy, Luther College (IA)
James Coyle, Chapman University (CA)
Steven Daniell, Texas Wesleyan University (TX)
Miles Davis, Shenandoah University (VA)
Brian Dietz, Kalamazoo College (MI)
Jonathan Duraj, Wittenberg University (OH)
Wyatt Evans, Drew University (NJ)
Andrew French, Albion College (MI)
Walter Iwanenko, Hilbert College (NY)
Allison Jablonski, Lynchburg College (VA)
David Kenley, Elizabethtown College (PA)
Mark Lee, Spelman College (GA)
Tracy Manier, St. Edward’s University (TX)
Melissa Maxwell-Doherty, California Lutheran University
Julie McIntosh, The University of Findlay (OH)
Michael Orok, Virginia Union University (VA)
Lisa Perfetti, Whitman College (WA)
Chad Pulver, Saint Joseph’s College (IN)
Dawn Remmers, Austin College (TX)
Curt Scheib, Seton Hill University (PA)
James Shriver, Central College (IA)
Maria Tapias, Grinnell College (IA)
Carol Traupman-Carr, Moravian College (PA)
Elizabeth Wolfinger, Meredith College (NC)