Sherry Cummings, professor and associate dean of the College of Social Work, and Jenny Moshak, associate director for sports medicine in the athletic department, graduated this summer from the HERS Bryn Mawr Summer Institute at Bryn Mawr College.
Sixty-seven participants representing sixty-three institutions across the U.S. participated in the 2012 Bryn Mawr HERS Institute. Responding to the current environment for higher education globally, the institute was themed “Women Leaders: Facing the Challenges as We Re-Invent Higher Education.” Topics included understanding the environment for higher education, planning and leading change in the academy, managing and investing strategic resources, engaging individual and institutional diversity, and mapping leadership development. The two women said that the institute strengthened their leadership abilities and broadened their perspective.
“Networking, sharing, and practicing with exceptionally talented women from around the country was transformative and priceless,” said Moshak.
Cummings noted that the fortieth anniversary of Title IX was marked during the institute. “We feel extremely privileged and grateful to have celebrated the occasion at the HERS Institute.”
Cummings and Moshak said they are thankful for UT’s support and are eager to bring back their new skills and fresh ideas to help advance Tennessee’s mission.
The HERS Institute for Women in Higher Education has provided an intensive summer program to select female faculty and administrators since 1978 in order to prepare them to be future leaders in higher education. UT Knoxville has long participated in this initiative by sponsoring outstanding women to participate in the prestigious institute.
For more information about HERS, visit www.hersnet.org. For more information on HERS sponsorship at UT, contact the Chancellor’s Commission for Women at cfw.utk.edu.