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Joanne Woodard

Joanne G. Woodard
Vice Provost for Equal Opportunity & Equity

Location & Hours
1 Holladay Hall
8:00 am - 5:00 pm
Monday - Friday

Mailing Address
Campus Box 7530
Raleigh, NC
27695-7530

Phone Numbers
Voice: 919-515-4559
Fax: 919-513-1428
TTY: 919-515-9617

Email
joanne_woodard
@ncsu.edu

BRIDGES: Academic Leadership for Women

About BRIDGES

Sponsored by the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, BRIDGES is an intensive professional development program for women in higher education who seek to gain or strengthen their academic leadership capabilities. It is designed to help women identify, understand, and move into leadership roles in the academy. An advisory board guides the program's activities. Through the program, participants will:

  • develop insights into leadership, with a particular focus on the special skills and attributes women bring to their leadership roles;
  • acquire an understanding of the many facets of colleges and universities;
  • refine and improve their cross-cultural communication skills ; and
  • create a program of personal and professional development to benefit themselves and their institutions.

Who should participate? Women from four-year institutions of higher education, both public and private, who are:

  • faculty interested in developing their leadership skills;
  • faculty looking to move into academic administration;
  • administrators with managerial and supervisory responsibilities;
  • administrators seeking a greater range of responsibilities.

Program Format & Schedule

BRIDGES sessions are designed to meet program objectives with presentations by academic leaders who have been selected for their ability to provide information and improve skills. Small group discussions, panels, question and answer sessions, simulations, case studies, and formal presentations are used to create an atmosphere that encourages learning and interaction. Advance readings are assigned for many sessions and participants complete a leadership survey before the first session.

The curriculum is designed by members of the Advisory Board, who are women faculty and administrators from public and private North Carolina colleges and universities. Board members have significant leadership experience, and many are graduates of BRIDGES. All are dedicated to helping other women in higher education establish and attain their professional goals. There are four parts to the program:

Part I: Developing a Transformational Perspective
Part II: Using Our Resources in a Transformational Context
Part III: Transforming for Continuity and Change
Part IV: Transforming Together

The program is organized into four weekend sessions, beginning on Friday afternoon and ending Saturday afternoon, with lunch and dinner served on Fridays, and lunch provided on Saturdays. The beginning and ending program sessions include an overnight weekend retreat (accommodations provided) at the Aqueduct Conference Center in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. To graduate from the program, participants must attend and actively participate in all class sessions. For more information on the curriculum, see the BRIDGES website.

BRIDGES XVI will be held in the Fall of 2008 (September 12 - November 15). See the BRIDGES website for more information.

Application, Cost & Location

Individuals interested in the BRIDGES program must submit an application, a current curriculum vitae or resume, and two letters of reference. The deadline for applications is May 1, 2008. Application forms are available online and from the Office for Equal Opportunity (hard copy).

The cost of BRIDGES for 2008 is $1600, due on July 16, 2008. This fee includes all instruction, educational materials, meals, and accommodations during the overnight weekend sessions. Since the first BRIDGES class of 1993-94, the Provost has agreed to pay one-half of the tuition for each admitted participant from NC State, and the participant's Dean or Vice Chancellor has paid the other half.

The locations for BRIDGES sessions include the Friday Center, operated by the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and the Aqueduct Conference Center, just south of Chapel Hill.

NC State BRIDGES Graduates

Other Leadership Programs

Last updated on 6/8/08 9:36 PM Policies, Rules & Regulations Disclaimer