Sul Ross State University proudly announces that Dr. Laura Payne and Michelle Lancaster have successfully completed the Texas Academic Leadership Academy (TALA), a respected year-long program designed to cultivate excellence in higher education leadership across the state.
Concluding in June, the academy is offered through the Texas Council of Chief Academic Officers and is widely regarded as a cornerstone in preparing emerging and established academic leaders to navigate the complex landscape of public higher education. Participants engage in intensive professional development, receive mentorship from veteran academic executives, and collaborate with peers across Texas in exploring strategic leadership and best practices in academic administration.
Dr. Laura Payne, a cornerstone of the Sul Ross community since 2005, holds a Ph.D. in Creative Writing from Texas Tech University, where she also earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees in English. Her journey through academic leadership includes service as Chair of the Department of Languages and Literature beginning in 2015, followed by her 2020 appointment as Dean of the College of Graduate Studies. In 2021, she took on an expanded role as Dean of the Jimmy D. Case College of Literature, Arts and Social Sciences. Her completion of TALA reflects a continued commitment to student-centered leadership and collaborative program development.
Michelle Lancaster, who joined Sul Ross in April 2023 as Assistant Provost for Curriculum Development and Strategic Initiatives, has quickly emerged as a driving force in advancing academic operations. She has played a pivotal role in streamlining tenure and promotion reviews, overseeing compliance with Texas State University System and state regulatory bodies, and leading the integration of digital systems for catalog and curriculum management. Lancaster’s leadership has also helped coordinate the university’s first doctoral program and bolster faculty development initiatives. She is currently pursuing a doctoral degree in Public Administration at the University of Illinois.
Sul Ross State University continues to prioritize the professional development of its academic leaders, reaffirming its mission to deliver high-quality, accessible education across West Texas and the Middle Rio Grande Region.
