Dinesen Selected For National Leadership Development Program

Simpson College is pleased to announce that Tracy Dinesen, associate dean of academic affairs and retention, is one of 45 mid-level administrators in higher education nationwide selected by the Council of Independent Colleges (CIC) to participate in the 2018–2019 Senior Leadership Academy.

Individuals chosen for the year-long 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. Dinesen will participate in an opening seminar in St. Louis, Missouri, November 2–4, 2018, and a closing seminar in Washington, DC, June 20–22, 2019. She also will undertake a mentoring program, work with experts, participate in webinars, and engage in a series of readings and case studies during the academic year.

The 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.

“Because the generation of senior leaders now on campus is rapidly approaching retirement, the need for able new leaders is significant,” 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. They (and I) believe that Tracy Dinesen has the potential for highly effective leadership in a position of senior responsibility on campus.”

Dinesen received her BA in Spanish from the University of Colorado at Boulder, earned a MA in Spanish from the University of North Texas and her Ph.D. in Spanish from Texas Tech University. She has taught at Simpson College since 2005, being named to her current position in 2017.

“Tracy has been a tremendous asset to Simpson’s campus since her arrival,” said Jay Simmons, Simpson College president. “She served as the Director of General Education for three years as well as lending her leadership talents to numerous on-campus committees. Having been honored for exemplary teaching in 2015 shows that Tracy’s contributions in and out of the classroom are valued by the entire campus community.”

Sixty-one percent of participants in the first Senior Leadership Academy cohort (2010–2011) have advanced in their careers, and 28 percent of all participants in SLA thus far have earned more advanced positions. “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, the American Academic Leadership Institute (AALI), and Academic Search, Inc. Linda M. Bleicken, president of AALI, will direct the program. For more information about the Senior Leadership Academy, visit www.cic.edu/SeniorLeadershipAcademy.