Hudson College Faculty Member Among Four OU Faculty Named 2026-27 SEC Academic Leadership Fellows

Michael Anderson, Ph.D., professor of biostatistics in the University of Oklahoma Hudson College of Public Health, is among four OU faculty members selected for the 2026-27 cohort of the Southeastern Conference Academic Leadership Development Program.

The program identifies, prepares and advances emerging academic leaders across the SEC, equipping them to address current and future challenges facing higher education.

“This recognition is a well-deserved testament to the dedication, leadership and commitment that these faculty members provide to the University of Oklahoma,” said OU Senior Vice President and Provost André-Denis Wright. “I have no doubt they will continue to represent the excellence found at OU, and I look forward to their continued impact on the future of higher education.”

OU’s 2026-27 fellows are:

• Michael Anderson, Ph.D., professor of biostatistics in the Hudson College of Public Health at the OU Health Campus
• Elyssa Faison, Ph.D., chair of the Department of History, L.R. Brammer Jr. Presidential Professor and associate professor in the Dodge Family College of Arts and Sciences
• Nian Liu, Ph.D., chair of the Department of Modern Languages, Literatures and Linguistics and associate professor of Chinese in the Dodge Family College of Arts and Sciences
• Qiong Wang, Ph.D., director of the Division of Marketing and Supply Chain Management and Ruby K. Powell Professor of Marketing in the Michael F. Price College of Business

OU Vice Provost Sarah Ellis, Ph.D., oversees the university’s selection process for the program.

“Programs like the SEC Academic Leadership Development Program have elevated academic collaboration and leadership across the conference,” Ellis said. “This initiative truly exemplifies how joining the SEC has benefited OU well beyond the playing field.”

Anderson’s selection reflects the leadership and expertise Hudson College faculty bring to the broader university community. Through the program, he will join faculty colleagues from across the SEC in developing the skills, perspectives and professional relationships needed to help shape the future of academic leadership and higher education.