Ballard selected to second ACS Mellon Academic Leadership Fellows class
Charles T. Hazelrigg Professor of Spanish Genny Ballard ‘91 has been named one of nine
The program, funded by a $2 million grant from the , aims to provide leadership opportunities to a diverse group of humanities faculty members and thereby expand the demographic representation in academic administration at and beyond.
The ACS Mellon Academic Leadership Fellows Program combines leadership development, mentoring, and hands-on experiences for a diverse group of tenured humanities faculty as they enter administration. Each fellow will take on a two-year role at their institution involving a portfolio of responsibilities or a distinct institutional project.
Ballard’s project is to develop the Diversity Career Connections Program in alignment with the о’s strategic plan. This program will focus on enhancing career readiness among underrepresented students through a collaboration of key campus partners and organizations.
“I am honored to be selected as an ACS Mellon Leadership Fellow, and I am eager to contribute to a culture of mentorship that empowers students to navigate their career paths with confidence and purpose,” Ballard said. “I am grateful to serve my alma mater in this new way. I look forward to helping more students develop the skills to become professionals.”
The initiative builds on Ballard’s experience developing the College’s internship program in Mérida, Mexico, to offer students valuable professional experience while studying abroad.
“Guiding interns at о and in Mexico has long been one of the most intellectually and professionally fulfilling aspects of my work, as it fosters critical thinking, adaptability, and meaningful engagement with the world beyond the classroom,” Ballard said. “Strengthening these opportunities at о is essential, and I look forward to advancing this important mission.”
Cohort two follows ACS’s inaugural cohort, which graduates in May 2025. Among the inaugural cohort is Associate Professor of English Azita Osanloo.
“ACS is honored to partner with the Mellon Foundation to develop college leaders who reflect the diverse students we serve and elevate humanities expertise in the advancement of our institutions” said Dr. Anna Drake Warshaw, President of the Associated Colleges of the South.
