Skip to main content

The SAIL Department Chair Resource Center

Learn to Lead Academic Departments, Research Institutes, and Scholarly Centers

SAIL was published in the academic journal “The Department Chair: A Resource for Academic Administrators.”

Check out the series of three articles:

The SAIL Institute’s Department Chair Virtual Academy,

Part 1 Chairs Can Learn to Lead (Winter 2022) (Link to PDF)

Part 2 Chairs: Learning to Manage Up (Spring 2022) (Link to PDF)

Part 3 How Can Chairs Support Faculty Development? (Summer 2022) (Link to PDF)

 Department Chair Virtual Academies

NEW! June 24 – July 24

Summer 2025

Register Here

The SAIL Institute’s Department Chair Academy offers opportunities and resources to build the leadership capacity of current and future department chairs, program coordinators, and directors of research centers and institutes. The overall philosophy of SAIL begins with recognition and appreciation of the leadership skills that all participants bring to our workshops and coaching programs.  Our approach is to build confidence and knowledge through teaching leadership concepts and offering practice of those concepts through case studies, reflection, discussion, and developing “take home” goals and objectives.

55

Average Age of SUNY’s Department Chairs at Four-Year Campuses

41%

Percentage of chairs at SUNY Four-Year Campuses who are female

39.8

Average number of faculty per faculty member at SUNY’s Four-Year Campuses

12%

Percentage of Chairs who are from Diverse Backgrounds at SUNY’s Four-Year Campuses

We understand the critical role of the department and program chair in the academic success of any institution. As Walzer (1975, p. 6) noted in his seminal study of the department chair, “the academic department is where the action is” and warned that “the job of the academic …[chair] must not be underestimated by the [college] administration, the faculty members, or those who hold or seek the job.”

In fact, at some institutions, department chairs can collectively make up to 80% of the administrative decisions given their front-line role in hiring, advising, course scheduling, faculty development, and so forth. Yet, few institutions of higher learning have thought through or invested in the professional development of those faculty who the institution trusts to fill such important roles.

Being an effective department chair or research director requires an individual to articulate and execute a vision for the future, understand their strengths and weakness as a leader, have a firm understanding of practical management skills, and serve as an effective boundary spanner between the faculty and the college administration.  Below are descriptions of the type of opportunities the SAIL Institute offer to advance the leadership capacity of front-line academic leaders, including multi-campus retreats, customizable campus workshops, and resources available to campuses and individuals.

SUNY Department Chair Academies

The SAIL Institute offers a system-wide summit each summer, open to department chairs at SUNY and non-SUNY colleges and universities.  These multi-day day events provide an enriching and engaging experience designed to prepare department chairs to be effective leaders, creative managers, champions of student success, and supporters of faculty development.

Learn more and register for an upcoming academy near you.

Campus Workshops for Department Chairs

The SAIL Institute works with campuses to develop and deliver customized workshops and training for their front line academic staff, including department chairs, program coordinators, and directors of research centers and institutes.  Workshops are guided by SAIL’s 6 Domains of Knowledge for Academic Leaders.

To bring SAIL to your campus to deliver a custom department chair workshop, reach out to Carolyn Mattiske, Associate Director, at leadership@suny.edu or 518-445-4201.

360 Evaluations for Department Chairs

The SUNY360 is specifically designed to assess skills that are important to those working at colleges, universities, and other organizations in the higher education sector.  

6 Domains of Leadership for the Department Chair

  1. Know Yourself
  2. Know Your Students
  3. Know Your Institution
  4. Know Your Faculty
  5. Know Your Context
  6. Know Your Skills

Learn more

Resources

The SAIL Institute is committed to building the human capacity of academic leaders within SUNY from department chair to chief academic officer.  SAIL’s Department Chair Academy provides online resources for campuses looking to develop their own department chair trainings as well as resources to aid chairs and directors in their own leadership development.

Pricing

The prices for the course are as follows:

CPD Campus Fee:  $800.00

Other Non/SUNY: $1000.00

SUNY Campus Fee: $900.00

How to Pay

Available payment methods are:

  • Credit Card (Mastercard or Visa)
  • CPD General Points  
  • Campus Check
  • Journal Transfer

CPD General Points: To pay with CPD General Points, your campus must be a CPD Member. Check if your campus is a member. It is the responsibility of the registrant to determine if enough points are available to use BEFORE completing the registration process. Please contact your Campus Points Contact to determine points eligibility.  If points are denied, the registrant is responsible for the payment.  

Campus Check: Prior campus approval is required. Make check payable to SUNY Center for Professional Development. Mail to SUNY CPD at the address below. 

Journal Transfer (State Operated Campuses Only): Prior campus approval is required. An account number with authorizing signature for Journal Transfers is required within 48 hours. You must print and return the invoice that is included with the registration confirmation email.

Important: FULL payment is required 30 days from the date of registration.

Synchronous Sessions 

Week ONE:

  • Session 1 – June 24 12:30 – 4:30 p.m.
  • Session 2 – June 26, 1:00 – 3:45 p.m.

Week TWO:

  • Week of June 30-July 4 – no live sessions. There will be course prompts in Brightspace for Chairs to consider.

Week THREE:

  • Session 3 – July 8 9:15 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.
  • Session 4 – One hour live Zoom practices session – each learner will pre-register for the time slot that works best for them: 9:15, 10:30 a.m. or 1 p.m.

Week FOUR:

  • Session 5 – July 15 1:00-4:30 p.m.

Week FIVE:

  • Session 6 – July 22 One hour live Zoom practices session – each learner will pre-register for the time slot that works best for them: 9:15, 10:30 a.m. or 1 p.m.
  • Session 7 July 24 1:00 – 4:00 p.m.

Instructors

Lead Instructor:

Dr. Leah Deasy, Ed.D.

Professor of Reading

SUNY Jefferson 

Bio:

Leah Deasy’s academic journey is a testament to her perseverance. As a non-traditional, first-generation college student, she earned an associate degree from Cayuga Community College (1999) and then her undergraduate (2003) and graduate degrees (2006) in teaching from SUNY Oswego. Her commitment to learning led to a full-time faculty position at SUNY Jefferson (2008), where she spent sixteen years honing her skills and knowledge. During this time, she earned a CAS in Disability Studies (2009) and a doctorate from St. John Fisher University (2016). Leah was promoted to the rank of full professor (2024). 

 During her last six years at Jefferson, Leah taught and led as a Department Chair and School Chair. Her blend of servant and transformative leadership instilled confidence and trust in her colleagues and students.

 Leah is currently a Dean at a community college in Eastern Tennessee. 

Instructor:

Dr. Giacomo Oliva

Bio:

Giacomo (Jack) Oliva has served in a variety of administrative positions in higher education, retiring recently from his role as Vice President for Academic Affairs at the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) in New York City, a position he held from 2011 to 2021. Prior to his work at FIT, his administrative and leadership work included serving as Professor of Music and Endowed Dean of the Hixson-Lied College of Fine and Performing Arts at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (2001-2011), Professor of Music and Director of the School of Music at the University of Florida (1992-2001), and Head of the Department of Music at Mississippi State University (1985-1992). Before moving to Mississippi, Dr. Oliva worked for twelve years in the New Jersey Public Schools as a K-12 vocal and instrumental music teacher and district-wide music administrator. While teaching in New Jersey, Dr. Oliva also held the position of Adjunct Assistant Professor of Music and Music Education at New York University. He holds the BA cum laude in Music Education and the MA in Applied Music from Montclair State College (now University), the EdD in Music Education and Administration from New York University, and a certificate from the Institute for Educational Management at Harvard University. He also holds certifications as a Curriculum Supervisor and Principal from the State of New Jersey.

Dr. Oliva has presented papers, panel discussions and lecture recitals for the College Music Society, the International Society for Music Education, Music Educations National Conference, and the National Association of Schools of Music, as well as for the International Council of Fine Arts Deans, the International Music Council, the Australian Society for Music Education, the European Association for Music in Schools (EAS), the Association of Teacher Educators, and the Music Teachers National Association. He has also served as a reviewer for the Music Education research journal Update, for the Southeastern Journal of Music Education, and for the second volume of the Handbook of Research on Music Teaching and Learning. Oliva’s leadership and service in professional organizations includes serving as President of the International Society for Music Education (2002-2004), as President-Elect of the Mississippi Music Educators Association (1991-1992), as Chair of the College Music Society’s Committee on International Initiatives (2008-2011), and as a member of the Executive Committee for the International Federation of Fashion Technology Institutes (IFFTI). He has also served as an accreditation reviewer for The National Association of Schools of Music (NASM) and the Middle States Commission on Higher Education (MSCHE).

In addition to his work in education, Dr. Oliva has remained active as a pianist and conductor in both the classical and popular music traditions, with a special interest in Ragtime and other forms of American popular music. His most recent project, A Ragtime Cabaret, was taped with a live audience and broadcast by Nebraska Public Television. Oliva has served as percussionist with the New Jersey Opera, as First Assistant Musical Director for Opera at Florham at Fairleigh Dickenson University, as a conductor and clinician for all-state and regional choral and instrumental performing groups in New Jersey and in Mississippi, and as an adjudicator for Performing Arts Consultants and for piano auditions and festivals sponsored by the Florida Federated Music Clubs and the Mississippi Music Teachers Association. His work as a pianist and conductor also includes ongoing activities as a free lance musician in New York and New Jersey, as well as serving for several years as musical director and accompanist for singer Connie Francis, performing with Ms. Francis on the Tomorrow Show (WNBC-TV) and at Avery Fischer Hall in Lincoln Center.

Phone: 315-214-2440

Report an Accessibility Issue