FSU Biological and Forensic Sciences Department Chair Selected for AASCU’s Department Chair Leadership Institute

FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. – Fayetteville State University Biological and Forensic Sciences Department Chair and Associate Professor Danielle Graham, Ph.D., has been selected to participate in the American Association of State Colleges and Universities’ (AASCU) of the Department Chair Leadership Institute.

Graham will engage with department chairs from across the nation during an intensive two-day session in Washington, D.C., Aug. 14-15. This program also offers additional virtual engagements and networking opportunities throughout the academic semester, providing participants with resources and strategies to enhance their leadership effectiveness. She is the second consecutive FSU department chair to participate in the institute.

“Participating in the institute provided realistic training for engaging with various stakeholders on campus,” said Graham. “It inspired and motivated me, expanding my toolkit for increasing communication, building relationships, setting goals, and empowering me to lead a team. This experience will be invaluable in furthering faculty, staff, and student success within the Biological and Forensic Sciences Department and beyond at FSU.”

The Department Chair Leadership Institute is designed to equip current department chairs at state colleges and universities with the skills needed to be dynamic, strategic, and empathetic leaders. Participants gain a broad national perspective on the role of department chairs in fulfilling the institutional mission, leading with an equity mindset, delivering value, and ensuring student success.

Graham earned her bachelor’s degree in biology from Fayetteville State University in 2011 and completed her doctoral degree in Microbiology and Immunology at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in 2015. Since joining FSU in the fall of 2017, she has been at the forefront of implementing innovative teaching strategies, fostering equity and inclusion in the sciences, conducting outreach, and providing authentic research experiences for undergraduate students.