Membership involvement and development has been a focus of ALE for years. Beyond the annual conference, the association is committed to creating opportunities for ALE members to connect with leadership educators and practitioners throughout the year to share, network, dialogue, and collaborate in areas that are important to them.
We are pleased to offer five separate Focus Area Networks (FANs) to our members. Each FAN group is directed by a coordinator who organizes communication and content with that group. The groups and their respective listservs serve as an opportunity for communication with like-minded professionals. The FAN groups often hold webinars, send relevant information or publications to their members, and discuss collaboration opportunities for the ALE annual conference. The groups also gather in person at least once during the annual conference. See the descriptions and contact information below for each of the ALE FAN groups.
ALE members interested in joining a FAN group or groups should contact Summer Odom, summerodom@tamu.edu with your areas of interest.
Agriculture & Extension Leadership
Jason Headrick, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor of Leadership & Community Development
College of Agricultural Education & Communications
Texas Tech University
If you are an Agricultural Leadership or Extension Educator, this is the FAN for you! Introducing the newest addition to the ALE community: the Agriculture & Extension Leadership FAN! ALE is paying homage to its foundational roots and offering this opportunity to create a community focused on leadership across agriculture, natural resources, and human sciences. If you are you passionate about nurturing the next generation of agriculturalists or thrive on guiding communities towards success - we're a FAN for you! Whether you're a seasoned extension educator or a budding ag leadership scholar, this is your chance to connect, collaborate, and cultivate greatness in the field of agricultural leadership!
Teaching and Pedagogy/Andragogy
Dan Jenkins, Ph.D.
Professor
Leadership & Organizational Studies
University of Southern Maine
daniel.m.jenkins@maine.edu
Kate McCain, Ph.D.
Collegiate Assistant Professor
Department of Agricultural, Leadership, and Community Education
Virginia Tech
kdmccain@vt.edu
Our purpose is to dialogue outside (and inside) conference spaces around shared interests in regard to leadership development and education in adult learning (andragogy) and pedagogy. To utilize this space to network, share ideas, and to discuss areas of tension and/or challenges that arise around developing leaders. We encourage our members to engage in the following ways:
- Share recent and applicable scholarly research
- Collaborating through dialogue
- Best practices and resource sharing
- Personal and professional development
- Scholarship of teaching and learning (outcome)
- New and innovative approaches/pedagogy
Student Affairs Leadership
Josh O'Connor, Ed.D.
Assistant Vice President of Student Life
University of the Pacific
joconnor@pacific.edu
The Student Affairs Leadership FAN is designed to connect leadership educators working with leadership programs in Student Affairs together and to promote scholarly practice. During the year, our FAN has provided professional development opportunities and facilitates the sharing of best practices to members. At the annual ALE conference, we get together to network with each other and discuss how we can further develop the field as well as each other.
Graduate Leadership Education
Michael C. Gleason, Ph.D.
Associate Dean for Graduate Studies
Irving R. Burling Distinguished Professor in Leadership
Associate Professor of Leadership & Director, Institute for Leadership Education
Wartburg College
michael.gleason@wartburg.edu
Andrew Wefald, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Staley School of Leadership
Kansas State University
wefald@ksu.edu
The graduate education FAN group is comprised of individuals interested in considering the unique niche of graduate education in leadership as well as exploring the various pedagogies utilized in delivery of this education. Those new to graduate leadership education, those who have had more experience, and even those who just want to learn more about graduate leadership education are invited to be a part of this FAN.
Leadership Studies Research
Hannah Sunderman, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Agricultural, Leadership, and Community Education
Virginia Tech
hsunderman@vt.edu
Dami Alegbeleye, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor
Leadership & Organizational Studies
University of Southern Maine
Ibukun.alegbeleye@maine.edu
The Leadership Studies Research FAN is designed to sharpen the scholarly capacity of ALE members by applying time, space, network, and resources toward research methods in leadership studies pertinent to leadership education. In 2019, the Leadership Studies Research FAN launched the Methods Workshops concept at the ALE Conference, which provides professional development training in research methods to ALE members.
Leadership Coaching and Consulting
Tony Andenoro, Ph.D.
Director of Community Engagement & Programming
College of Social Work & Criminal Justice
Florida Atlantic University
Founder, Apogee Leaders LLC
tandenoro@fau.edu
Coaching and consulting guide individuals and organizations in unlocking leadership potential and maximizing performance. As leadership evolves rapidly due to technological advancements and generational shifts, the Coaching and Consulting Focus Area Network (FAN) creates a vibrant space where aspiring and experienced leadership educators, graduate students, business leaders, and entrepreneurs come together to tackle today’s most pressing challenges. This FAN is the perfect environment to grow your coaching and consulting expertise, expand your market reach, enhance executive education and personal coaching offerings, and elevate the success of the organizations you serve. Whether you're developing new programs or refining existing ones, this is where thought leadership thrives.
Students
Kameron Rinehart
Doctoral Student: Agricultural Education & Communications
Texas Tech University
kameron.rinehart@ttu.edu
Haden Botkin
Doctoral Student: Agricultural Leadership Education & Communication
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
hbotkin2@huskers.unl.edu
The Student FAN is a group for students, moderated by students. Its purpose is to support students interested in leadership education. A newly established FAN, we welcome your ideas for how to begin building our community together. We aim to connect students to one another, to introduce you to mentors outside of your home institution, and to provide valuable resources to support your professional development.
