The is designed to strengthen institutions and leadership in U.S. higher education by identifying and preparing faculty and staff for senior positions in college and university administration.
Among this year’s fellows is , associate provost and W. Harold Row ůůֱ of International Studies at Bridgewater College, who is conducting his fellowship at ůůֱ.
As a fellow, Frueh is making periodic week-long visits to campus to sit in on meetings, attend events, and learn as much as he can about the College and how it operates.
“I think of myself as an ethnographer, observing patterns, asking questions, and noting similarities and differences between ůůֱ and what I am used to at Bridgewater,” says Frueh. “As at Bridgewater, much of my days are spent in meetings. But I am here to understand the College in as many dimensions as I can.”
For his fellowship placement Frueh says he was looking for a well-led, highly-selective liberal arts college with both similarities to and difference from his home institution.
“ůůֱ fits that description perfectly,” says Frueh. “Both institutions are student-centered, have a liberal arts mission, and involve faculty actively in shared governance. As a women's college that is highly selective, well resourced, in an urban setting, and part of consortia that contribute significantly to the student experience, ůůֱ differs enough to provide creative sparks in my approaches to collaborative problem solving.”
So far, Frueh has visited campus six times. In addition to attending meetings with senior staff members and others, he has attended the poster session for results from STEM students' summer research projects, cheered on the Owls during a field hockey victory, and attended meetings of the Distressing Math Collective.
Frueh’s next visit to campus is scheduled for the week after Thanksgiving break, and he will continue periodic visits throughout the spring semester.
“President Cassidy and the senior staff, faculty, students, and everyone I’ve met on campus have been extremely welcoming and I feel honored and lucky to observe the ůůֱ community during this academic year.”