Emerging Leaders Academy

The Office for Faculty Advancement announced a new professional development program, the Emerging Leaders Academy (ALA), in the Fall of 2024. We are now accepting applications for the 2026-2027 academic year. The ELA's purpose is to encourage mid-career faculty and professional staff to consider leadership career paths and to guide them in developing the essential skills for effective institutional leadership.

Applicants should demonstrate academic leadership potential and have an interest in pursuing academic leadership roles. Participants will learn more about themselves as emerging leaders while attaining skills that lead to successful personal and professional outcomes.

Requirements for participation:

Faculty staff from any title series
Professional staff with current leadership responsibilities
Completing a strengths/leadership assessment
Identifying/planning meetings with a campus leader (who can serve as a potential mentor)
Nomination from the department chair and the college dean
Complete a capstone project that aims to address a need at the college or university level (projects can be conducted individually or as a small group)
Participants must be available for the full duration of each session. Sessions for the 2026-2027 term will be held on the following Thursdays from 10 am to 12 noon:
- September 17, 2026
- October 15, 2026
- November 19, 2026
- January 21, 2027
- February 11, 2027
- March 25, 2027
- April 15, 2027
- April 29, 2027 - Graduation and project presentations

Application form

The Emerging Leaders Academy (ALA) application period is open from April 1 to June 30. Applications should be submitted to the Faculty Advancement Application Portal.

Applicants should submit the following required documents to the application portal (all in PDF format):

Curriculum vitae or resume (5 pages max) - include information relevant to the application
Statement of Leadership Goals (2-page max) - include information regarding your interest in the ELA and how your involvement might benefit your college or the university.
Statement of Commitment (1-page max) to attending all scheduled sessions and participating in all related activities.
Effective Leadership Statement (2-page max) - include examples of how you have exhibited the potential for effective leadership on your campus and/or in the community.
Letters of Support (x2) - one letter from your department chair or supervisor (2-page max), and one letter from your college dean (2-page max).

Click here to upload your application documents