2026–28 Leading with Humanity Fellows

AAC&U is pleased to recognize the inaugural cohort of "Leading with Humanity: A Multi-Institutional Fellowship for Academic Leadership Transformation." Hosted by the AAC&U New Leadership Academy and supported by the Mellon Foundation, the fellowship brings together 15 humanities faculty members from five institutions to strengthen their leadership skills and prepare for expanded roles in higher education.

Representing a broad range of humanities disciplines, these fellows bring diverse scholarly perspectives and professional experiences that will enrich their leadership development and cross-institutional collaboration. Below, we recognize the fellows and their institutions as they begin their two-year leadership development experience. 

  • Rachel Buller

    Rachel E. Buller

    Professor of Visual Arts and Design, Bethel College
  • Christine Crouse Dick

    Christine E. Crouse-Dick

    Professor of Communication Arts, Bethel College
  • Christina Liu

    Christina T. Liu

    Associate Professor of Music, Music Department Chair, Bethel College
  • Alicia Ellis

    Alicia E. Ellis

    Associate Professor of German, Colby College
  • Nicolas Flores

    Nicolás Ramos Flores

    Associate Professor of Spanish, Colby College
  • Arnout vander Meer

    Arnout van der Meer

    Associate Professor of History, Colby College
  • James Peterson

    James Peterson

    Professor and Chair, Department of Languages & Literatures, Delaware State University
  • Ordner Taylor

    Ordner W. Taylor, III

    Director of General Education, Delaware State University
  • Yi Zhang

    Yi Zhang

    Associate Professor in the Department of Languages and Literatures, Delaware State University
  • Valerie Accetta

    Valerie Accetta

    Head of Musical Theatre, Full Professor, University of Alabama at Birmingham
  • Matt King

    Matt King

    Professor of Philosophy, University of Alabama at Birmingham
  • Lilian Mina

    Lilian Mina

    Professor of English, Director of Institutional Assessment, University of Alabma at Birmingham
  • Jean Bessette

    Jean Bessette

    Associate Professor of English, University of Vermont
  • Helen Morgan Parmett

    Helen Morgan Parmett

    Associate Professor of Department of English, Film and Television Studies, University of Vermont
  • Rob Shimko

    Rob B. Shimko

    Program Head, Theatre & Dance Associate Director, School of the Arts, University of Vermont