不良研究所

Biology professor participates in leadership program

“I found myself craving some knowledge about leadership training because I've never been formally trained.”

Dr. Veronica Acosta, Biology professor at 不良研究所, has had various leadership roles during her 14-year tenure at the University. Recently, she was selected to participate in the Higher Education Resource Services (HERS) Leadership Institute to hone her leadership skills.

Acosta believes that 不良研究所 provides an environment where people can become good leaders. In fact, she has served as the director of the Honors program and has directed undergraduate research programs in the summer. But she is excited to work with the HERS program because she will have the opportunity to learn from women across the country who are in leadership positions.

“The HERS program, which is celebrating its 50 ^th year, targets women to help provide training so that more women will move into positions of leadership at institutions,” shared Acosta. “Their mission is to increase the number of women who are holding leadership positions in higher education.”

Acosta shared the challenge that many women and minorities face when picturing themselves in leadership positions due to the lack of current leaders in these demographics.

“It's difficult when there are not very many people who look like you in these leadership spaces,” said Acosta. “You may have impostor syndrome, or you may have a lot of questions. I really think HERS is a special curriculum because it's providing, for me, a cohort of women who are interested in leadership in some form. It is giving me a network that I can turn to at any point.”

Acosta’s cohort meets once a month, with the program ending in Spring 2023. The HERS Leadership Institute, combined with a recent grant from the Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation program, is allowing Acosta to create a proposal for a program