Big Ten Academic Alliance

The Big Ten Academic Alliance (BTAA), formerly known as the Committee on Institutional Cooperation (CIC), is the academic consortium of the Big Ten universities and the United States’ pre-eminent model for effective collaboration among research universities. For more than half a century, these world-class institutions have advanced their academic missions, generated unique opportunities for students and faculty, and served the common good by sharing expertise, leveraging campus resources, and collaborating on innovative programs. Governed and funded by the Provosts of the member universities, Big Ten Academic Alliance mandates are coordinated by a staff from its Champaign, Illinois, headquarters. Through BTAA leadership programs, participants who have demonstrated exceptional ability and administrative promise are aided in further developing their leadership and managerial skills.

Academic Leadership Program (ALP)

Established in 1987, the ALP develops the leadership and managerial skills of faculty from Big Ten Academic Alliance campuses who have demonstrated exceptional ability and administrative promise. Those selected from Penn State for the program were chosen because of their significant contributions and further potential for University leadership.

The BTAA’s five ALP Fellows for 2025-26 from Penn State are:

Saurabh Bansal
Professor of Supply Chain Management
Smeal College of Business

Allison Beese
Professor and Faculty Fellow
Materials Science and Engineering
College of Earth and Mineral Sciences

Eric Donnell
Senior Associate Dean
College of Engineering

Bryan Nichols
Associate Professor of Music
College of Arts and Architecture

Stephen Snyder
Associate Teaching Professor
English and Chair Elect
University Faculty Senate
Penn State Berks

PAST ALP FELLOWS:

In June 2024, the BTAA announced Penn State’s six ALP Fellows for 2024-25

In June 2023, the BTAA announced Penn State’s six ALP Fellows for 2023-24

In June 2022, the BTAA announced Penn State’s six ALP Fellows for 2022-23 

In June 2021, the BTAA announced Penn State’s five ALP Fellows for 2021-22

In June 2020, the BTAA announced Penn State’s six ALP Fellows for 2020-21

Department Executive Officers Program (DEO)

In 1997-98, the Big Ten Academic Alliance initiated the DEO, an annual program of leadership development opportunities for department heads and chairs. Institutional team participants include seasoned veterans as well as newer department heads and chairs.

The BTAA’s five DEO Fellows for 2024-25 from Penn State are:

Dave Abler

Department Head, Ag Economics, Sociology, and Education
Professor of Agricultural, Environmental and Regional Economics and Demography, College of Agricultural Sciences

John Affleck

Department Head for Journalism
Knight Chair John Curley Center for Sports Journalism, Donald P. Bellisario College of Communications

Luis F. Ayala H.

Department Head of Energy and Mineral Engineering
William A. Fustos Family Professor, College of Earth and Mineral Sciences

Aquila Kikora Franklin

Director, School of Theatre
Professor of Theatre/Dance, College of Arts and Architecture

Farshad Rajabipour

Department Head of Civil and Environmental Engineering
John A. and Harriette K. Shaw Professor; Director of CIAMTIS University Transportation Center, College of Engineering

PAST DEO FELLOWS:

In May 2024, the BTAA announced Penn State’s five DEO Fellows for 2024-25

In June 2023, the BTAA announced Penn State’s five DEO Fellows for 2023-24

In June 2022, the BTAA announced Penn State’s five DEO Fellows for 2022-23 

In June 2020, the BTAA announced Penn State’s five DEO Fellows for 2020-21