An important function of Women in Medicine and Science is facilitating the career development of women faculty and junior faculty members. Various initiatives have been organized by the WIMS to carry out its missions, including the Early Career Women Faculty Mentoring Program, general professional development opportunities, two career development programs, and identification of liaisons within each WFSM department to facilitate communication and disseminate information to faculty across the institution.
Career Development for Women Leaders (CDWL) Program
This professional development fellowship began in January 2008. Modeled after national programs for women in academic medicine, the CDWL fellowship covers nine one-day sessions over months. Because national leadership programs for women are becoming increasingly competitive and expensive and only a few faculty members can benefit each year, the purposes of the cross-campus CDWL program are to provide:
- An affordable, university-based leadership development program for women who are either currently in or aspire to leadership roles at Wake Forest
- A local, national-level-quality experience that allows more women to participate in leadership education
- An opportunity to bring women together from diverse professional backgrounds (anesthesiology, cancer biology, theater, math) to exchange ideas and foster cross-campus collaboration.
Presenters are nationally and internationally known experts, executive coaches and senior Wake Forest University faculty and administrators. All presenters are highly respected in their content areas.
View 2019-2020 schedule for topics and dates (pdf)
2020-2021 Program Call for Applications
The call for applications is now open. Women faculty (mid- to senior-career preferred) and senior staff (vice president level or equivalent) are invited to apply for the 2020-2021 program, which begins in September.
The CDWL Selection and Review Committee selects program participants based on the following criteria:
- Leadership experience and/or aspirations
- Program fit with leadership goals
- Service activities (institutional or outside of the institution)
- Quality and professionalism of the application
- Strength of the letter of support from the applicant’s chair.
To learn more, review the call for applications flier and the draft schedule.
The necessary elements that each candidate needs to submit are:
- Candidate summary form
- Current CV
- A formal letter addressing the following questions:
- What are your current professional responsibilities and academic interests?
- What are your goals for leadership and how can the CDWL help you achieve these goals?
- A strong and comprehensive letter of support from the applicant’s department chair. This required letter can be provided separately from the other application materials, and in it the chair should include the following required elements:
- address the applicant’s status as a current or emerging leader
- statement confirming that release time will be approved to attend the program upon acceptance.
The program is now accepting applications. Applications should be submitted electronically to Heather Whitley and must be received no later than July 15th at midnight. Applicants can expect to hear whether they have been accepted into the program by August 1st.
Graduate Analytics
- There are 154 CDWL Graduates (2008-2017): WFSM (66%); WFU (25%); other, WSSU, UNCG, High Point U & Salem College (8%).
- Of 154 graduates, 90 (58%) have accepted a new leadership role after program completion.
- Of those 90, 38 (42%) have accepted more than one new leadership role since program completion.
- Only 19 (12%) graduates have left their institution. Of these 19, 74% left for leadership opportunities at their new institution. Two others retired.
From a 2016 graduate:
"I owe a debt of gratitude for this women’s leadership experience in helping me find my voice, enabling my voice to be heard, and to be heard by the unexpected. I thank you and everyone that helped facilitate this growth in not only me but others in our group."