Author: Susan White/UNC School of Social Work
School of Social Work Professor Kim Strom-Gottfried helped expand UNC’s reach into the Middle East this spring with a visit to Saudi Arabia, where she conducted training for women who are leaders in higher education.
Strom-Gottfried, the Smith P. Theimann Jr. Distinguished Professor of Ethics and Professional Practice, presented workshops over four days in April in Abha in southwestern Saudi Arabia and in Dammam near the Persian Gulf. The training, which attracted more than 60 female deans, vice deans and chairs from various Saudi universities, is hosted regularly by the Ministry of Education’s Academic Leadership Center.
The visit is believed to be the first for a UNC School of Social Work faculty member. Jeffrey Buller, dean of Wilkes Honors College at Florida Atlantic University, has helped organize these workshops for the last seven years and tapped the UNC professor for the presentations.
Strom-Gottfried’s workshops, which focused on “Authentic Academic Leadership” and “Developing and Supporting Academic Leaders,” included discussions around mentorship, resources and best practices for preparing faculty for leadership, and common pitfalls for new academic leaders.