Program LE2AP (Leveraging Excellence in Engineering Assistant Professors) was launched in January 2014 within the Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science at Pitt. Supported by Dean Holder, in October 2014, Program LE2AP was expanded to include all departments in the Swanson School of Engineering within the new Center of Faculty Excellence (CFE). The components and structure of Program LE2AP were developed by Dr. Anne Robertson as an Institutional Action Project in the Executive Leadership in Academic Technology and Engineering (ELATE) Program at Drexel University (2013-2014). She also served as founding director of the CFE.
The components and structure of Program LE²AP were developed and refined using information obtained from:
- SWOT analysis (strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats) with recently tenured faculty in the SSoE
- interviews with Pitt senior leadership and management at various levels including the Provost, vice provosts, associate deans of the SSOE, department chairs, and head of the tenure and promotion committee
- interviews with faculty experts in leadership, group dynamics and mentoring consultation with current and past fellows of the ELATE@Drexel
- planning discussions with staff across the SSoE including the SSoE grant developer and the director of marketing of the SSoE.