The WVU Office of the Provost announces the appointment of professor Allison Swan Dagen as director of the WVU Women’s Leadership Initiative, effective Oct. 1.
The Women’s Leadership Initiative was originally established in 2012 as the Developing Women Leaders program. From its inception, the initiative has aimed to empower women in leadership roles across WVU and provide them the resources to help them reach their full potential.
Supported by Provost Maryanne Reed, WLI is guided by a 10-person steering committee of professionals across WVU campuses, including the WLI director. Each year, the WLI leadership team creates a unique curriculum and hosts a variety of professional learning and networking opportunities for its members around this leadership curriculum.
“I am enthusiastic about engaging with WLI in this new role and creating opportunities for all WLI members to learn, grow and be empowered in ways that both enrich the individual member and also advance the mission of West Virginia University,” Dagen said.
Dagen is a tenured professor in the WVU College of Education and Human Services and the program coordinator for the Literacy Education/Reading Specialist graduate program. Her research spans nearly two decades and focuses on professional learning and leadership of specialized literacy professionals, such as classroom teachers and reading specialists. Her expertise is an asset to her work with WLI.
She has been a member of WLI since 2017 and succeeds Presha Neidermeyer who is stepping down as WLI director to serve in her new role as associate provost for academic personnel in the Office of the Provost.