​ASU Leader Receives Two Fellows

By Hazel Scott/ASU                                                                                                                        

Dr. Linwood Whitten, interim assistant vice president of Student Affairs at Alabama State University, expects to have a busier summer as he embraces two Fellowships – the Forum Fellowship and a Fellowship for a higher education institute.  

Whitten, who also serves as the director of Diversity and International Affairs and Title IX coordinator, was one of five nationwide to be named a recipient of a highly competitive international education fellowship that provides full funding to pursue the Professional Certification in Education Abroad. The fellowship, provided by the Forum on Education Abroad, will enable Whitten to participate in an accelerated residency training program focused on compliance standards for the field of education abroad. The virtual training program is June 23-30.

“Each Fellow also will be matched with an experienced mentor, expanding the Fellow’s network of colleagues through participation in the Certification cohort, which is ongoing for the year. The Forum Fellowship supports education abroad professionals from HBCUs, Tribal Colleges and Hispanic-Serving Institutions,” Whitten explained.

Whitten pointed out that The Forum on Education Abroad develops and distributes comprehensive standards of good practice, resources, and training; advocates for education abroad and its value; and engages the field in critical dialogue to benefit students. Its 800-plus institutional members include U.S. colleges and universities, overseas institutions, consortia, agencies, organizations, and foundations that are committed to improving education abroad.

Aside from the Forum Fellowship, Whitten also was accepted into the prestigious Higher Education Leadership Foundation’s (H.E.L.F.) Leadership Institute Inspire 2021.  Whitten will travel to the four-day Leadership Institute at Wiley College on June 3-6. 

“The Leadership Institute is for those who inspire to be president and vice president, especially at HBCUs.  I’m a part of The Lambda/Mu Cohort. There’s only been two other Alabama State University leaders who were selected for the Institute, former colleagues Dr. Courtney Griffin and Dr. Davida Haywood. The Institute is a great opportunity,” Whitten said. 

Admission to the Leadership Institute provides Fellows and program participants access to and engagement with sitting and former HBCU presidents, senior HBCU administrators, HBCU thought-leaders, corporate leaders and executive recruiters. 

“I’m very excited about both positions. It gives me the opportunity to highlight the right things that we have done, and going forward, how we are leading. Also, the opportunity to spotlight ASU’s pivot to keep our campus safe during COVID-19,” Whitten said.

Whitten said he would be remiss if he didn’t acknowledge ASU’s administration and President Quinton T. Ross, Jr. “None of this would be possible without their support and leadership,” he said.