Cultivating leadership competencies to help advance UF’s mission

When Associate Provost for Strategic Initiatives David Reed, Ph.D., joined the Advanced Leadership for Academic Professionals, or ALAP, program, he expanded his institutional knowledge and network of colleagues, gaining the skills needed to significantly contribute to UF’s advancement.

Read on to learn more about the impact the ALAP program had on Reed’s professional journey.

Tell us about your professional journey and how you came to be in your current position at the University of Florida.

In my research program, I study the genetics and genomics of mammals. That type of research is often done in museums, which is where I started as an undergraduate researcher many years ago. Museums are magical places where you can travel back in time to see long-extinct creatures and it is a place where you can create grand adventures for yourself even today.

My first faculty job was in the Florida Museum of Natural History as the Curator of Mammals. I had a research lab, trained undergraduate and graduate students, and traveled the world studying mammals of all kinds. I really enjoyed that work but as I became more established in that world, I was also curious about leading museums. I served as Department Chair for six years in the Florida Museum and also as our Associate Director for Research. I really liked certain aspects of administration, like facilitating the research of others.

When I participated in the Advanced Leadership for Academic Professionals program, I shadowed then-Provost Joe Glover. I realized that our worlds — his and mine — weren’t as different as I might have thought, and that I had skills that could help the entire university. I volunteered in the Provost’s Office as a Provost Fellow, and gradually moved more and more of my appointment over until I was full time as an Associate Provost.

What motivated you to participate in the ALAP program?

I assumed that my path would lead me to be a museum director. At UF, the Director of the Florida Museum functions at the level of a dean reporting to the Provost. Participating in the ALAP program was a natural step to help prepare me for a leadership role at the university. I wanted to learn more about leadership, especially techniques and methods to help with some of the challenging things that leaders face, like HR issues. I realized during ALAP that you learn those leadership skills, and so much more. You learn about yourself.

Leaders come from all kinds of backgrounds, and they bring with them unique sets of skills and potential impediments to success. It is important to examine what you, given your unique background, personality and experiences, bring to a leadership role. ALAP helps you understand your assets and liabilities, and how to navigate a leadership role being conscious of both.

How has the ALAP program impacted you at a professional and, if applicable, personal level?

After ALAP I went on to take an intense two-week leadership course at Harvard. Both were exceptionally helpful, but the Harvard course allowed me to view something very impactful about the ALAP program. ALAP is built for leaders at UF taking into consideration our shared values, our norms, our language and our unique circumstances. The Harvard course had to attend to issues that we do not face (e.g., declining application rates, chronic underfunding by the State, etc.). ALAP has been pivotal to my success as a leader at UF.

Regarding networking, I met UF’s top leaders each week as they came to ALAP to speak about their personal experience. Further, I learned about the full breadth of the University thanks to the speakers and the diversity of my ALAP classmates. They come from all over UF and immediately expand your ability to work across what seem to be silos sometimes. I have made lifetime friends and colleagues from my time at ALAP.

Are there specific resources or connections you made during the program that you found most valuable and why?

There are so many pearls of wisdom that were given to me during ALAP, it is hard to focus on one or a few. There were nuggets about not letting people hand off their problems to you when they could be made accountable to solve them themselves. We repeatedly talked about not getting sucked into a whirlwind of chaos that can easily take over your day. We talked about what it means to be a servant leader and why that viewpoint is so powerful. In addition to those techniques that help you become a better leader; I created an incredibly valuable network of classmates who are still working at UF. These are folks who know me well that I can reach out to in times of need. They span the entire university, and that knowledge alone is incredibly valuable.

How have you applied what you learned in this program in your role as a leader?

The ALAP team created a competency model that demonstrates the competencies needed to be a successful leader at UF. It takes into consideration the UF culture and is specific to us. This model has been incredibly helpful to me. One of the first things I had to do in the Provost’s Office was convince 16 deans that they needed to pay for replacement teaching when faculty were away on Fulbrights rather than quibble over whether they could afford for faculty to accept these prestigious fellowships. I leaned heavily on the competencies to build trust, communicate my vision, create alignment with their needs, and ultimately get them to work with me to cultivate talent (faculty accepting prestigious fellowships). This year UF was ranked #2 in faculty Fulbrights in part because of the work done back then. This wouldn’t have happened without the skills I learned at ALAP.

What would you tell a colleague who is considering applying to this program?

Some folks might look at the time required to take the course and think I don’t have that kind of time to give to UF, I’m way too busy. That is really off the mark. This course is an investment in you. You are giving this time to yourself. The self-reflection, networking, learning and action that ALAP provides you undoubtedly helps the university. But, that pales in comparison to how much it helps you as an individual. If you think you don’t have time for this course, look at the long list of past participants who were equally as busy as you but made the commitment anyway. I know this course can help you become a better leader. I’ve seen it over and over again. Take the course.

Applications for the Advanced Leadership for Academics and Professionals program are being accepted now through May 6. Visit the ALAP website to learn more and apply.