Executive Leadership Academy
The Executive Leadership Academy (ELA) is a unique leadership development program for senior cabinet officers who are interested in becoming university presidents.
Apply by Feb. 10.Developing the next generation of presidents.
The president’s role, as well as that of other senior administrators, has changed. It now requires an understanding of all aspects of the institution—from enrollment to endowment management and from governmental to alumni relations—not to mention inclusion and belonging, athletics, fundraising, marketing, student affairs, strategic planning, and financial management. The president’s necessary expertise also has expanded beyond institutional borders, to include regulatory and legislative issues and crisis communications. Further, it is more essential than ever that the pipeline of senior leaders prepares a diverse range of candidates from all backgrounds to succeed. ELA develops the wide-ranging skills that new presidents and senior executives will need to meet the challenges of today’s educational environment and serve today’s students.
Who Should Participate
- Campus leaders and cabinet members interested in becoming president/chancellor or other senior executive position.
How You’ll Benefit
- Comprehensive preparation in the areas of most critical concern to presidents.
- Participants complete a Professional Experience Plan (PEP), which assesses leadership strengths as well as the opportunities Build a strong and supportive network of peers and mentors.
- One on one mentoring from current president and program director.
What to Expect
A partnership to prepare future leaders.
The Executive Leadership Academy is cosponsored by AASCU, the Council of Independent Colleges (CIC) and the American Academic Leadership Institute (AALI). Approximately 35 participants are selected each year – half from AASCU member institutions and half from CIC member institutions.
- Diversity, equity, and inclusion discussions integrated throughout
- Mentorship from experienced presidents
- Opportunity for real-time application and impact of tools and trainings via a Professional Experience Plan
- Strong relational component—commitment to create and support trust, encourage peer-to-peer learning, confidentiality, and safety among the cohort
- Enhance the skills and knowledge of cabinet-level administrators as they contemplate future roles as college or university presidents or other senior executive positions
Programming will be delivered in a blended format, with in-person and virtual programming. In-person programming will not be livestreamed or otherwise recorded. 100% attendance and participation is expected.
- Two in-person seminars in Washington, DC (June 16-17, 2025 and June 12-13, 2026)
- Regularly scheduled virtual workshops (July 2025–May 2026)
- The creation of a highly individualized Professional Experience Plan (PEP) designed to fill “gaps” in the participant’s expertise and experience
- Mentorship by both the participant’s current president and the program director
- Enrollment and marketing
- Endowment and financial management
- Government relations
- Alumni relations
- Inclusion and belonging
- Crisis communications
- Strategic planning
- Applications that are complete, including a nomination/endorsement from a president/chancellor who will serve as the participant’s mentor, and submitted by the deadline will be considered.
- AASCU and AALI staff review applications and select a cohort that reflects the diversity of AASCU institutions.
- Preference is given to applicants from AASCU member institutions.
A complete application for ELA includes the following:
- Nomination or endorsement from the president/chancellor from your home institution
- Clear and concise summary of your personal and professional development goals
- Commitment to 100% participation
Seminars are led by a teaching faculty of AASCU and CIC presidents and chancellors, vice presidents and chancellors, and other national subject matter experts.
The program fee for the 2025-2026 academic year is $3,575 per applicant.
The registration fee covers program administration, meals during the in-person seminars, and all materials.
Participants are responsible for their own travel and accommodations to/in Washington, DC.
Limited scholarships are available to accepted applicants from qualifying institutions. AALI and Academic Search provide financial support to enable this program fee to be kept at this level.
Testimonials
“I found the ELA to be among the most valuable professional development activities in my career. In addition to receiving pertinent information concerning the major trends impacting higher education, participants are provided a broad array of opportunities to network with colleagues who have similar professional aspirations.”
“The Executive Leadership Academy underscores the principle of distributed leadership – every quality that we enhance and any gap in knowledge, skill, or ability that we reduce or eliminate through the program prepares us for the next level while bolstering our effectiveness where we currently lead.”
2024-2025 Cohort
Keri A.
Alioto
Vice President, Student Affairs
Mount Mary University (WI)
Anthony M.
Baird
Vice President of the Division for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, & Belonging
Utica University (NY)
Pamela M.
Baldwin
Associate Vice Chancellor for Student Success and Enrollment Management
Fayetteville State University (NC)
Cheri
Betz
Executive Vice President
Siena Heights University (MI)
Darren D.
Blackston
Executive Director, Adult & Continuing Education, Workforce Development and Training, Prior Learning Program
Delaware State University
Lynne
Bongiovanni
Provost and Dean of Faculty
University of Mount Saint Vincent (NY)
Kevin H.
Braswell
Vice President for University Advancement
Tennessee Technological University
Carolyn
Campbell
Vice President for Development and Alumni Engagement
Washington & Jefferson College (PA)
Matthew
Damschroder
Vice President for Student Life and Dean of Students
Juniata College (PA)
Anne
Ehrlich
Vice President for College Life
Gettysburg College (PA)
Ellen
Goldey
Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of the College
Centre College (KY)
Gavin R.
Hamms
Associate Vice President of Enrollment Management
Grambling State University (LA)
Kevin
Hearn
Vice President for Enrollment Management & Student Affairs
Westfield State University (MA)
Kendricks D.
Hooker
Provost
Cabarrus College (NC)
Jay
Johnson
Associate Provost, Academic Operations and Development
Northwest Missouri State University
Tracy
Johnson
Vice President of Student Affairs
State University of New York at Oneonta
Sara
Kelly
Vice President for Enrollment Management
State University of New York at Brockport
Jennifer R.
Lundy
Vice President for Finance and Campus Operations
Gannon University (PA)
Justin
Mallett
Assistant Vice President of Diversity and Inclusion
Northwest Missouri State University
Antionette J.
Marbray
Vice President, Legal Affairs and Government Relations
Stevenson University (MD)
Peter
Matthes
Senior Advisor to the President and Vice President for External Relations
University of Iowa
Karen R.
Moranski
Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs
Sonoma State University (CA)
Keegan
Nichols
Vice President for Student Affairs
Arkansas Tech University
Jessica
Paquette
Vice Chancellor for System Affairs & Chief of Staff
Connecticut State Colleges and Universities System
Mary
Peterson
Vice President Academic Affairs
George Fox University (OR)
Ivan
Pulinkala
Provost & Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs
Kennesaw State University (GA)
Andrew
Rich
Dean
The City College of New York
Tarshia
Stanley
Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs
Wagner College (NY)
Tracy
Stenger
Interim Vice President for Student Affairs
State University of New York at Fredonia
Austen
Stephens
Dean- Student Affairs
Chadron State College (NE)
Alden
Stout
Vice President of Academic Affairs
Newman University (KS)
Sonja
Trent-Brown
Vice President, Culture and Inclusive Excellence
Hope College (MI)
Peter
Ubertaccio
Vice President for Academic Affairs
Stonehill College (MA)
Gourjoine M.
Wade
Vice President for Student Affairs
Texas Lutheran University
Karen
Wheel Carter
Associate Dean, Strategic Initiatives
Georgia State University
Alaric A.
Williams
Assistant Vice President for Academic Affairs
Minot State University (ND)
Arto
Woodley
Vice President for Advancement
Eureka College (IL)
Our Partners
Applications and endorsements for our 2025-2026 ELA cohort are due on Feb. 10, 2025.
Application Details
A full submission requires the candidate to submit an application form and an endorsement from the president/chancellor or provost from their home institution.
Application Requirements
- Currently serving in a cabinet-or other senior level position
- Endorsement from a president/chancellor or cabinet-level administrator from your home institution
Important Dates
- The 2025 program will take place from June 2025 to June 2026
- The deadline for applications and endorsements is February 10, 2025.
