Associate Professor Leadership Development at UCSD

Without question, UC San Diego’s faculty are among the most accomplished academics in their fields; only those with the highest caliber skills in research, teaching and service achieve tenure at UC San Diego.

The years leading up to achieving tenure are demanding and stressful. However the transition to life as a tenured faculty member comes with a new set of challenges. Tenured faculty often will begin to take on greater responsibilities in the life of their department, their professional organizations and societies, and in service to the University. They will also take on even greater roles in advising and mentoring students and junior faculty, evaluation of their peers, and in supervision of staff, graduate students, and/or research personnel, all while maintaining excellent research and teaching.

As our newly tenured faculty begin to contribute even more to the University’s academic, diversity and service oriented mission, we are equally committed to investing in their long-term success.

We have thus sought to understand the specific needs of our faculty and, through a number of forums (including various task force and summit reports, the recent University of California Climate Survey, UC San Diego’s Faculty Exit survey process, feedback from the Women’s Leadership Alliance, and via small faculty and administration focus groups), we have received candid, meaningful feedback about the unique challenges facing newly tenured faculty.

It is clear the professional success of faculty hinges not only upon achievement in research and teaching, but also on a faculty member’s ability to grow personally and to achieve a satisfying balance between the many roles and responsibilities  - as leader, teacher, mentor, advisor, colleague, and more – of faculty.   Therefore, UC San Diego annually offers a development opportunity for newly tenured associate professors and associate teaching professors who have achieved security of employment as one way to support our faculty in achieving long-term professional success.