REGISTER

Captioning for the deaf and hard of hearing is provided by Ai-Media for all Inside Higher Ed webinars. Transcripts available upon request.

Faculty turnover continues to impact many colleges and universities across the nation, hindering their ability to advance student outcomes, align curriculums with market needs, and maintain continuous academic innovation. 

In this live panel discussion, four higher education professionals discuss how they attract and retain faculty members at their universities. Join us to equip yourself with actionable insights and practical tools for creating a more engaged, satisfied and loyal faculty body for continued institutional success. 

You’ll learn how to: 

  • Identify and recruit faculty candidates who align with your institution's mission and values.
  • Structure onboarding to foster a sense of belonging and accelerate the integration of new faculty members into your academic community.
  • Reduce faculty burnout and turnover using strategies like professional development opportunities, work-life balance initiatives, creating a supportive and inclusive work environment, and more.
  • Overcome various other challenges that many institutions face in hiring and retaining accomplished faculty amid increased competition for top talent.

Can't attend the webinar? You should still register -- all registrants, including attendees and absentees, will receive a recording of the webinar and a copy of the presentation slides.

Tuesday, September 24 | 2 p.m. E.T.

Attract and Retain Top Talent for Your Higher Ed Faculty

SPEAKERS

David Whaley, Ph.D.
Dean, College of Education and Human Services at Murray State University

Dr. David Whaley is professor and dean of the College of Education and Human Services at Murray State University in Murray, KY. Prior to arriving in Kentucky 13 years ago, David served as the associate dean for teacher education at Iowa State University. He also served as the director of educator licensing at Colorado State University for 16 years. Dr. Whaley’s research emphasis has been on changes in leadership policies and the resulting impact on educator preparation. Previously, he investigated the status and impact of practices related to the admission and retention of teacher education candidates. Dr. Whaley has taught a variety of graduate and undergraduate courses, including “Research Methods,” “School Law” and “Curriculum Development.” He has supervised over 125 student teachers since first entering the professoriate in 1985 after finishing his Ph.D. at Cornell University. Previous to that, he was a secondary teacher in northern California.

Mickey Hepner, Ph.D.
Dean, College of Business at Austin Peay State University

Mickey Hepner is the dean of the College of Business at Austin Peay State University, a position he has held since 2018. Before joining APSU, Dr. Hepner was the dean of the College of Business at the University of Central Oklahoma. At APSU, he has championed initiatives to improve student outcomes, expand professional development opportunities and strengthen industry partnerships.

Cassidy Persson
Client Success Manager at Watermark

Cassidy Persson has been working in the higher education space for over 10 years. She received her bachelor's degree in English and Psychology at Radford University in 2013 and her master's degree in College Student Personnel Administration from James Madison University in 2015. From there, she worked full time for JMU's Career and Planning as a career and academic advisor for six years. She then transitioned to Watermark in 2021 as a client success manager, working with over 200 institutions who are using Watermark products and are utilizing their insights to inspire progress.

MODERATORS

Angelique Smith, Ph.D.
Senior Director, Faculty Affairs and Development at Full Sail University

Angelique is a dedicated academic leader with over 20 years of experience in faculty development, instructional design, learning technology and academic compliance. She has an insatiable appetite for helping others maximize their potential. Her efforts have been pivotal in developing online programs that meet the needs of diverse learners and performance improvements throughout an organization. Her leadership extends to managing large-scale projects including the implementation of learning management and human capital management systems. With a Ph.D. in Higher Education Administration: Education Leadership, she has used her research to foster supportive learning environments and collaboration with faculty while honoring their well-being. Her work is characterized by a commitment to equity, innovation and the continuous improvement of higher education practices to support student success.

Melissa G. Welborn
Senior Director, Faculty Review Systems at Clemson University

Melissa Welborn manages faculty review systems at Clemson University. She serves as the architect and system administrator for faculty activity reporting, annual reviews, tenure and promotion, and course evaluation systems. She works with over 1800 full-time faculty and administrators and ensures processes flow smoothly. She also analyzes key faculty metrics such as hiring statistics, turnover and faculty career life cycles. Melissa has a master's of Public Administration and a bachelor’s in English from the University of Georgia. This fall, she has enrolled in the Ph.D. program at Clemson in Rhetorics, Communication and Information Design. Her research interests include optimizing human resources data presentation in dashboards for decision-making and public interest.

Nicole Wilder
Principal Product Manager at Watermark

Nicole Wilder serves as principal product manager at Watermark, bringing over 14 years of experience in the ed tech industry, where she’s had the privilege of navigating the ever-evolving landscape of education and technology. Her journey started with a bachelor’s degree in Psychology, giving her unique insights into deciphering both user behavior and team dynamics. She is based in Milwaukee, WI.