Leadership on Deck Institute (LDI)          

Leadership on Deck Institute (LDI) is a year-long faculty development opportunity that is limited to a small group who will be given the opportunities to reflect on their strengths and shortcomings relative to an administrative career; be introduced to various leadership roles; cultivate core leadership skills; develop and capitalize on a commitment to promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion; provide an opportunity to demonstrate preparation by completing a self-led leadership project; and complete a leadership statement and final assessment. Training will begin with a personality inventory and will include opportunities for mentoring and networking.

Participants must be at the rank of associate professor or professor and will be selected through an application and recommendation process.

The LDI class will meet one Friday per month in September, October, November, January, February, March, and April. The April meeting will feature presentations, an assessment, and a celebration. Each session will focus on a specific topic, offer a guest lecture by an experienced administrator, present an engaged/active learning opportunities, and allow abundant interaction among participants.

2023-2024 LDI Working Schedule

Session Topics Facilitators/Speakers (in Progress)
9/15/23
  • Expectations and Goals of LDI
  • Personal leadership and strengths and limitations
  • History of MTSU and organizational structure
  • Mark Byrnes
  • Brian Hinote
  • Deana Raffo
10/27/23
  • Expanding role of the academic unit
  • Peter Cunningham
  • Andrew Oppmann
  • Laurie Witherow
  • Amy Aldridge Sanford
11/10/23
  • Using data to make decisions
  • Michelle Arnold
  • Jonell Hinsey
  • Sidney McPhee
  • Kate Pantelides
  • Lee Wade
2/9/24
  • Project Management
  • Amy Aldridge Sanford
  • Richard Tarpey
3/1/24
  • Leadership and Difference
  • Tyler Henson
  • Amy Aldridge Sanford
3/29/24
  • Career Path from Here
  • Brian Hinote
4/12/24
  • Presentation of final projects
  • Ceremony
  • Mark Byrnes
  • Brian Hinote
  • Amy Aldridge Sanford

Sample Leadership on Deck Session

Conducting Crucial Conversations

Session Topics

  • Conducting crucial conversations (CC) and communicating clearly 
  • Motivating unit members through crucial conversations 
  • Dealing with disagreement and difficult individuals 
  • Dissolving the relationship and involving third parties 

Before the session

  • Read 
  • Crucial Conversations: Tools for Talking When Stakes Are High, Kerry Patterson, et al.
  • “Taking the stress out of stressful conversations” HBRJuly-August 2001, pp. 113-119 
  • TBA
  • Write
  • Guided reading reflection

Session Activities

1:00-1:30  Discussion of readings
1:30-2:00 Interview with experts from Office of University Counsel, Disability and Access Center, Human Resources
2:00-2:30 Conducting difficult conversations. Multiple roles plays in small groups.
2:30-2:45 Break
2:45-3:30 What do you do when promises for new behavior fall through?  How to adjust/dissolve a relationship through termination or other methods
3:30-4:00 Summary, takeaways, and actions steps


Session Learning Outcomes

Following the session participants will be able to do the following:

  • Describe barriers affecting effective interpersonal communication 
  • Describe strategies for enhancing interpersonal communication in the workplace 
  • Use crucial conversations principles to motivate others
  • Create a strategy to dissolve a relationship 

LDI Classes

LDI Class III (2023-2024)

Christina Cobb University Studies/True Blue Core
Matthew Duncan University Studies
Rodrigo Gomez Media Arts
Kevin Krahenbuhl Womack Educational Leadership
Robin Lee Womack Educational Leadership
Ann McCullough World Languages, Literatures, and Cultures
Lei Miao Engineering Technology
Eric Oslund Elementary and Special Education
Andrew Owusu Health and Human Performance
Suzanne Sutherland History
Sam Zaza Information Systems and Analytics

LDI Class II (2022-2023)

Murat Arik Management/BERC
Jacob Avila School of Concrete and Construction Management
Jenn Caputo Health and Human Performance
Christopher Dye School of Music
Grant Gardner Biology
Bob Gordon Media Arts
Scott Handy Chemistry
Julie Myatt English/MTEngage
Pat Richey Communication Studies
Ben Stickle Criminal Justice Administration
Jennifer Vannatta-Hall School of Music

LDI Class I (2021-2022)

Anne M. Anderson Economics and Finance
Margaret Brooker Art and Design
Keonte C. Coleman School of Journalism and Strategic Media
Claire Cook Human Sciences
Rick Cottle Human Sciences
Katie Foss School of Journalism and Strategic Media
Shannon Harmon Elementary and Special Education
Alexander T. Jackson Psychology
Rebekka King Philosophy and Religious Studies
Darren E. Levin Theatre and Dance
Katherine Mangione Elementary and Special Education
Kate L. Pantelides English
Andrew R. Polk History
Lauren Rudd Human Sciences
Bethany Wrye Health and Human Performance