Higher Education Academic Leadership (HEAL) Program

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Overview

The HEAL Fellowship program provides opportunities for tenure-track and tenured faculty to identify and study an important problem or challenge facing higher education and propose a scalable and impactful intervention that ultimately supports the success of students, faculty, staff, or the university.

This program is focused on executing a high-impact project and on developing the fellow as a leader in higher education. Through structured reflective exercises, readings, meetings and other experiences, fellows will connect their growth as leaders to successfully implementing their projects. Fellows will work with on-campus mentors and foster and develop relationships with external mentors.

Montclair State University strives to be at the forefront of public higher education. By focusing on student success, engaged scholarship and research, involvement and service to the community, and leveraging its strengths, the university continues advancing its mission for higher education leadership. Today’s leaders in higher education are challenged by financial constraints, demographic changes, evolving student needs, rapid changes in technology, and political and public scrutiny. Our success has been and remains dependent on innovation and creativity, and faculty have been and are essential not only through their traditional roles but also, increasingly, through their intentional and informed leadership. Successful leaders in higher education are strategic thinkers, strong collaborators who are flexible as they engage and inspire others, and excellent in planning, communicating, and executing. This program seeks to develop faculty leaders.

The Program supports faculty members interested in exploring leadership in higher education. In the Provost’s Faculty Fellowship Program for Higher Education Academic Leadership (HEAL), a small group of faculty come together to explore and learn about academic leadership while they work individually on a problem or project they are uniquely equipped to address. The HEAL Fellowship program provides space and support for thoughtful innovation and action, supported by collaboration. Fellows propose and pursue their projects to make a measurable, lasting impact on Montclair.

Support

Fellows may receive up to four credits of on-load release per semester for two semesters to pursue their projects. Financial support will be available for travel or project-related expenses. Fellows will meet four times per semester with the Provost and the HEAL leadership team for leadership development and project support, and will also meet with approximately ten University leaders to gain a deeper understanding of institutional operations and strategic decision-making.

Fellows are mentored and supported by the Provost’s Office and complete the program having implemented their proposed projects and strengthened their leadership capacities through a series of readings, activities, mentor support, and personal reflection and work. Successful fellows are highly organized, collaborative, and curious about how universities work and lead change.

Current HEAL Fellows

2026-2027 HEAL Cohort

HEAL Application Details

Call for Proposals AY27 (26-27)

Montclair State University’s mission is to empower students, faculty, and communities through education, discovery, and engagement that advance the public good. As New Jersey’s most inclusive public research university, Montclair is committed to access, excellence, and impact. The HEAL Faculty Fellowship advances this mission by cultivating faculty leaders whose work strengthens our institutional capacity to serve students, foster innovation, and shape the future of higher education.

Today’s leaders in higher education navigate shifting student demographics, financial pressures, technological advances, and evolving public expectations. Montclair’s success depends on innovation, collaboration, and strategic thinking—qualities that faculty have long demonstrated in their teaching, scholarship, and service. The HEAL program supports faculty in deepening these capacities as they pursue projects that create measurable, sustainable improvements to the University and its mission-driven priorities.

The Provost’s Office invites proposals from faculty interested in exploring higher education leadership through the Provost’s Faculty Fellowship Program for Higher Education Academic Leadership (HEAL). A small cohort of faculty fellows will learn together about academic leadership while working on individual projects of strategic importance to Montclair State University.

AY27 Themes

Applicants should develop proposals based on their expertise and interests, inspired by the following themes that align with Montclair’s mission and institutional commitments. These themes are offered as generative questions to guide proposal development:

  • STUDENT SUCCESS: How can we advance equitable student success and support the academic, personal, and post-graduation growth of all students?
  • FACULTY EXCELLENCE: How can we strengthen faculty belonging, professional growth, and leadership capacity?
  • ACADEMIC PROGRAMMING: How can academic programs evolve—through interdisciplinarity or innovation—to meet emerging societal, student, and workforce needs?
  • GLOBAL REACH: What strategies could expand Montclair’s global engagement or foster meaningful international partnerships?
  • RESEARCH IMPACT: How can we foster collaboration across disciplines to amplify research productivity and societal impact?
  • COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT: What partnerships or initiatives would enhance Montclair’s contributions to the communities we serve?
  • PUBLIC GOOD: How might we expand the University’s role in advancing the public good through education, scholarship, and service?

With these themes in mind, proposers should develop a question and outline a plan for addressing it.

Deadline for the next cohort: December 19, 2025

Criteria for Evaluation of Proposals:

  1. Relevance and significance to the mission and goals of Montclair State University
  2. Innovation in approach to the challenge or question addressed in the proposal
  3. Feasibility of the project and its implementation components
  4. Potential impact

The HEAL Fellowship applications will be available via Interfolio.

Proposal Components (Requirements):

  1. A statement of no more than 3 single-spaced pages that provides a brief description of your proposed project and its primary aims, and which addresses the following questions as they relate to your proposal and plan.
    • Why are you interested in the opportunity?
    • What topic do you want to explore and why is this of interest or important to you?
    • Why is this issue of importance to Montclair and its strategic direction?
    • What project outcomes and metrics for success are consistent with your proposal?
    • What is your time timetable, necessary resources, and principal offices or people would be helpful in supporting the project?
  2. Current CV
  3. Letter of support (no more than one page) co-signed by the applicant’s chair/director and dean indicating enthusiasm for the candidate, project, and support for the requested one course per semester release.

Applications will be reviewed by the Provost and his designees, as well as external reviewers. Finalists will be invited to interviews.

Successful applicants shall:

  1. Submit regular updates and a final report according to a template and/or written guidance from the Provost or designee;
  2. Give a presentation at the conclusion of the fellowship at an on-campus venue determined by the Provost in consultation with the Fellow;
  3. Meet at least twice a semester with other Fellows (and sometimes national experts in the field) to discuss learning, progress, approaches, and ideas;
  4. Attend short meetings with divisional leaders, the President, and other university leaders;
  5. Attend a national conference with direct relevance to the Fellow’s project and/or to learning in higher education academic leadership/

Application:

The HEAL Fellowship applications will be available in Interfolio. To request an application template for the HEAL Fellowship Program contact Jessica Montesdeoca at 973-655-4280 or montesdeocje@montclair.edu.

Timeline:

December 19, 2025: Submission deadline of application via Interfolio.

February 19, 2026: Announcement of approved fellowships.

Contacts:

  • To request an application template for the HEAL Fellowship Program, contact Jessica Montesdeoca at 973-655-4280 or montesdeocje@montclair.edu. Jessica must be contacted by December 18th to give access.
  • For questions about the fellowship, you may contact: Emily Isaacs at isaacse@montclair.edu.