Exploring Academic Leadership: Navigating Group Dynamics in Academic Leadership

Academic leadership is comprised of many different areas, building on a variety of skills and experiences. This program series is for anyone interested in learning more about the unique aspects of leading in an academic environment. Faculty and academic staff in all appointment types are invited to attend. Sessions focus on a range of topics, including discussions with current leaders about their work, explorations of different institutional functions and processes at MSU, and skill-building to develop your own leadership toolkit.

Navigating Group Dynamics in Academic Leadership

Date/Time: Monday, March 23, 2026 from 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM EST
Location: W207 Library and Zoom

Presenters:
Shannon Lynn Burton, University Ombudsperson
Ryan Smith, Assistant University Ombudsperson

Academic leaders routinely navigate complex group dynamics shaped by power, identity, disciplinary culture, and competing institutional pressures. This session invites faculty and academic staff to explore group dynamics through a conflict resolution lens, examining how patterns of communication, role formation, and unspoken norms influence both collaboration and tension within academic teams. Participants will deepen their understanding of how conflict emerges and escalates in group settings, including the impact of hierarchy and institutional structures on decision-making and belonging. Grounded in conflict theory and practical leadership strategies, this session will provide tools for identifying early signs of group discord, interrupting unproductive dynamics, and intentionally fostering environments that support constructive dialogue and shared accountability.

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The Joy Project – Finding the Joy in Leadership

Date/Time: Tuesday, April 7, 2026, from 12:00 – 1:30 PM EST
Location: W207 Library and Zoom

Presenter:
Sarah Prior, Director, Liberty Hyde Bailey Scholars Program, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources and Associate Professor, Sociology, College of Social Science

This conversation will focus on the importance of creating and maintaining environments that foster joy within our spaces. We will discuss how to intentionally make space for joy and the importance of joy, especially in times of uncertainty.

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