Andrea Wirgau was appointed assistant director of Ferris State University’s Doctorate
in Community College Leadership, a program designed to help train the future leaders
of community colleges. The announcement was made by Roberta Teahen, associate provost
for Academic Affairs and the program’s director.
Wirgau joined Ferris in 2010 as the DCCL coordinator and has played a key role in development of the Extended and International Operations’ program.
“Andie’s immediate new challenges will include planning the first hooding and commencement ceremonies for the 23 anticipated graduates of Cohort One in May 2013 along with the planning for a robust DCCL Alumni organization that will keep our graduates connected to this Ferris program and to promote a network for cohort members’ career progression and continuing scholarly activity,” Teahen said.
The three-year doctoral program was tailored to meet the needs of working adults who want to lead mission-driven and evolving community colleges.
“I am extremely proud to be part of a program in which staff, faculty, students and partners are equally motivated to improve the world through education,” said Wirgau, a Lowell native. “The individuals who graduate from the DCCL program go on to lead different aspects of higher education, not only in Michigan, but across the country and beyond.”
One key of the program’s success is its cohort model, which allows for networking, support and professional collaborations across department, institution and state lines, she said.
“It’s about people working together synergistically instead of building strong silos,” said Wirgau, whose new role will focus on strategic planning, alumni development and academic leadership.
Before joining Ferris, Wirgau was coordinator of Student Activities at the College of DuPage, a community college in Glen Ellyn, Ill.
She earned a bachelor’s degree in communications from Aquinas College, a master’s degree in Recreation Administration from Aurora University in Illinois and a doctorate in higher education and organizational change from Benedictine University, also in Illinois. She also is a Chair Leadership Academy graduate, a StrengthQuest educator and a certified instructor in Leadership Development Studies for Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, among other special certifications.
Applications are being accepted for Cohort 4, which will begin Friday, May 17. Cohort 2 has 13 members on track to graduate in 2014, and Cohort 3 has 25 scheduled to graduate in 2015.
To learn more about the DCCL program, visit: www.ferris.edu/ccleadership/