Faculty Affairs seeks applications for the Department Head Development Fellow (DHDF) AY 2026 cohort. This program is an opportunity for Department Heads to network both within the DHDF cohort and with fellows from other leadership development programs hosted by Faculty Affairs.
- Individually or in pairs, design programming to address issues relevant to Texas A&M Department Heads (e.g. lunch workshops, longer-form workshop experiences, or on-demand resources).
- As a cohort, serve as both a focus group and as contributors to a project to redesign guidance materials and our website experience for Department Heads.
- Participate with fellows from other initiatives in the Academic Leadership Academy hosted by Faculty Affairs. Applicants MUST be available to meet 12-2 p.m. the first Tuesday of the month during the fall and spring semesters. The Academic Leadership Academy learning community involves monthly sessions wherein current and aspiring leaders examine their strengths, discuss timely challenges, explore leadership approaches, and expand their networks. Members of the learning community, from this and other fellowship programs hosted in Faculty Affairs are invited to a Leadership Fellows luncheon September 26, 2025, 12:00-2:00, Bethancourt Ballroom, MSC.
All resulting program projects will be supported administratively and financially by our office. Once they complete the program, Fellows will receive $5,000 for professional development. Further, as interested, Faculty Affairs will support access to executive coaching during the fellowship period.
2025-26 Department Head Development Fellows
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Dr. Khalil Dirani
Department of Educational Administration & Human Resource Development
College of Education & Human DevelopmentDr. Khalil M. Dirani joined Texas A&M University in 2014. He currently serves as a professor and as head of the Department of Educational Administration and Human Resource Department, holding the JL & Sidney Huffines '44 Endowed Chair. He previously achieved the rank of associate professor of human resource development (HRD) in the College of Education at the University of Georgia, which he joined after earning his PhD from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. Dr. Dirani is an accomplished academic leader and HRD scholar whose research explores themes of learning organizations, talent development in international contexts, convergence research, team science, and interdisciplinary team collaborations. He is a founding member of two interdisciplinary international networks (Network-to-Network Gulf of Mexico Network, and Soil-for-Society Network), is the past-President of the Academy of Human Resource Development, and served as an Executive Board member for the University Counsel for Workforce and Human Resource Education.
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Dr. Erica Teixeira
Department of Comprehensive Dentistry
College of DentistryA third-generation dentist, Dr. Erica Teixeira joined the Texas A&M College of Dentistry in July 2025. She previously served as a professor ands department executive officer of operative dentistry at the University of Iowa College of Dentistry, and as an assistant professor at the University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio for six years prior to that. Dr. Teixeira is a fellow of the International College of Dentists and an alumna of the Executive Leadership in Academic Medicine program. She currently serves on the American Dental Association (ADA) Council of Scientific Affairs, is vice chair of the ADA Seal committee, the president-elect of the Women in Science Network of the International Association for Dental Research, and serves as a Commission on Dental Accreditation site visitor.
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Dr. Carlos Valiente
Department of Teaching, Learning & Culture
College of Education & Human DevelopmentDr. Carlos Valiente has over 20 years of experience in higher education, including as a professor, department head and leader of multiple research projects. He has served at Oklahoma State University and his alma mater, Arizona State University. Dr. Valiente's research endeavors, funded by the National Science Foundation and National Institutes of Health, include developing community partnerships aimed at improving the educational and social experiences of students. He has also received honors from the American Psychological Association and the Association of College and University Educators.
The Department Head Development Fellows Application
The following application materials are necessary to apply:
1. Cover letter containing a brief Challenge Statement and Personal Narrative: In one page or less:
- provide a brief rationale for your interest in participating in a leadership learning community experience
- describe an important challenge you expect many department heads face for which you would like to assist in the design of programming or resources
2. Curriculum Vitae
Previous Department Head Development Fellows
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- Dr. Brian King (Department of Hospitality, Hotel Management and Tourism, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences)
- Dr. Jeffrey Liew (Department of Educational Psychology, School of Education & Human Development)
- Dr. Gregory Luhan (Department of Architecture, School of Architecture)
- Dr. Galen Newman (Department of Landscape Architecture & Urban Planning, School of Architecture)
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- Dr. Amulya Gurtu (Department of Maritime Business Administration, Texas A&M University at Galveston)
- Dr. Jeffrey Liew (Department of Educational Psychology, College of Education & Human Development)
- Dr. Khalil Dirani (Department of Educational Administration and Human Resource Development, College of Education and Human Development)
- Dr. Mindy Bergman (Department of Psychological and Brain Sciences, College of Arts and Sciences)
- Dr. Katy Gonder (Department of Ecology and Conservation Biology, School of Agriculture and Life Sciences)