Four distinguished faculty members from the University of Georgia have been designated as Fellows of the 2025-2026 Southeastern Conference Academic Leadership Development Program.
Launched in 2007, the initiative aims to equip campus leaders for executive roles in higher education. Fellows are chosen through a selective process and represent a diverse array of backgrounds in leadership and academic pursuits.
UGA’s 2025 – 2026 SEC ALDP Fellows consist of:
- Philip Hong, dean and professor, School of Social Work
- Neil Lyall, associate dean for physical and mathematical sciences and professor of mathematics, Franklin College of Arts and Sciences
- Juan Meng, endowed professor with the UGA Athletic Association, head of the advertising and public relations department, and director of the Cannes Lions Program at the Grady College of Journalism and Mass Communication
- Connie J. Rogers, professor and department chair of nutritional sciences and Bill and June Flatt Chair in Foods and Nutrition, College of Family and Consumer Sciences
“Drs. Hong, Lyall, Meng, and Rogers have significantly impacted the University of Georgia, and I extend my congratulations to each of them for this well-earned recognition,” stated Benjamin C. Ayers, the university’s senior vice president for academic affairs and provost.
The SEC ALDP Fellows from UGA showcase a variety of disciplines from throughout the campus.
Hong has held the role of dean and professor in the School of Social Work since 2022, emphasizing a strong commitment to academic rigor, innovative research, and meaningful public service. Under his guidance, the school has bolstered its reputation as one of the premier social work programs in the country. Its graduate program ranks No. 10 among public institutions in the latest U.S. News & World Report evaluation, while its online master of social work program secured the No. 1 spot from BestColleges.com. Prior to UGA, Hong was the associate dean for research and held the Lucian and Carol Welch Matusak Professorship at Loyola University Chicago School of Social Work.
Lyall directs the division of physical and mathematical sciences at Franklin College and acts as the liaison for the departments of chemistry, geology, mathematics, physics and astronomy, statistics, and the School of Computing. He is also responsible for overseeing instructional budgets, workforce planning, enrollment management, experiential learning, and honors within the college. Before his time in the dean’s office, he served as the head of the mathematics department and director of graduate studies. His key research interests lie in harmonic analysis and arithmetic combinatorics.
Meng manages faculty recruitment, performance assessment, curriculum updates, program development, program evaluation, operational oversight, and budgetary matters within the department of advertising and public relations. She also supervises student and alumni engagement, outreach and development, responsiveness to emergencies, and accountability. During Meng’s leadership as department head, the department earned recognition as one of the top five educational programs in the nation in 2024 and 2025 by PRWeek, a top industry publication. Additionally, she directs UGA’s Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity Study Abroad Program.
Rogers orchestrates the strategic and operational activities of the department of nutritional sciences, which includes overseeing the department’s research, educational missions, service, outreach, and extension efforts. As chair of the Academic Nutrition Departments and Programs Community within the American Society for Nutrition, Rogers leads a data collection initiative focused on policies, procedures, curriculum, and resources dedicated to graduate education across academic nutrition departments throughout the U.S. Her research examines the impact of changes in energy balance and various nutritional elements on chronic disease risk and progression. She has authored over 80 peer-reviewed publications and book chapters.
The SEC ALDP program comprises three components: an institutional development program tailored by each university for its participants; two SEC-wide three-day workshops hosted at specific campuses for all participants; and a competitive fellowship offering administrative development opportunities for prior Fellows.
UGA’s Fellows will convene monthly on campus with senior leaders and engage in leadership development activities aligned with the cohort’s interests.
“Participating in the SEC ALDP marks an exciting new chapter for these campus leaders eager to elevate their already remarkable careers,” remarked Elizabeth Weeks, associate provost for faculty affairs, interim vice provost for academic affairs, and UGA’s SEC ALDP liaison. “This program has demonstrated exceptional value for faculty leaders seeking to refine their abilities as the forthcoming generation of higher education leaders.”
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