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. 9.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 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 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.
- Discussions of the evolving leadership competencies needed to lead in today’s complex and turbulent times
- 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
- Nomination Deadline: February 9, 2026
- Opening Seminar (June 15-16 2026, Washington, DC)
- Regularly scheduled virtual workshops (July 2026–May 2027)
- Closing Seminar (June 10-11, 2027, Washington, DC)
In-person programming will not be livestreamed or otherwise recorded. One-hundred percent attendance and participation is expected.
- Enrollment and marketing
- Endowment and financial management
- Government relations
- Alumni relations
- 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 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 2026-2027 academic year is $3,750 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.”
2025-2026 Cohort
Anthony D.
Andrews
Campus Executive
University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point
Danielle
Bucci
Vice President of Strategic Enrollment, Marketing and Communications
Nazareth University (NY)
Todd
Clark
Senior Director, Student Services
Pennsylvania State University-Penn State Harrisburg
Joshua
Clary
Vice President of Student Life and Diversity, Title IX Coordinator
Marian University (WI)
Beth E.
Concepción
Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs
Linfield University (OR)
Ben
Corpus
Vice President for Enrollment Management & Student Affairs
California State University Monterey Bay
P. Grady
Dixon
Dean, Werth College of Science, Technology, and Mathematics
Fort Hays State University (KS)
Brian R.
Doak
Vice President, George Fox Digital
George Fox University (OR)
Michael
Dodge
Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs and Student Life | Professor of Education
American International College (MA)
John
Falconer
Senior Advisor to the Chancellor
University of Nebraska Kearney
Kristin C.
Flora
Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of the College
Franklin College (IN)
Gerald D.
Griffin
Provost and Chief Academic Officer
Hope College (MI)
Mark
Hanshaw
Associate Provost and General Counsel
Cumberland University (TN)
Jason
Harmon
Vice President for Enrollment Management
Dominican University (IL)
Kim
Hayworth
Vice Chancellor for Student Access and Success
Montana State University – Billings
Susan Daniels
Henderson
Provost
Coker University (SC)
Jeff
Howard
Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs
University of North Carolina at Pembroke
JT
Kane
Dean of Instrumental Studies and Orchestral Performance
Manhattan School of Music (NY)
Quentin
Kidd
Provost and Academic Director of the Wason Center for Civic Leadership
Christopher Newport University (VA)
Lisa L.
Kirkpatrick
Vice President for Student Affairs and Administration
St. Edward’s University (TX)
Deniz Zeynep
Leuenberger
Chief of Staff, Vice President of Planning and Strategy, Interim Dean of the College of Graduate Studies
Bridgewater State University (MA)
Jesse
Mason
Associate Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs
Minnesota State Colleges and Universities
Michael B.
McGinnis
Vice President for Academic Affairs
Saint Francis University (PA)
Gus
McGiver
Chief of Staff
State University of New York Cobleskill
Kareem
McLemore
Vice President of Strategic Enrollment Management and International Affairs
Delaware State University
Andrew
Morse
Vice President for Development and Strategic Partnerships
Complete College America
Gloria
Noronha
Vice President
Lesley University (MA)
Mary
Oling-Sisay
Vice Provost for Academic Affairs
California State University San Marcos
Oscar O.
Ovalle
Vice President for Planning and Institutional Development
Universidad Autónoma de Baja California
Blake B.
Rickman
Vice Chancellor for University Advancement & Executive Director, UAFS Foundation Inc.
University of Arkansas – Fort Smith
David
Sears
Vice President for Institutional Advancement
McDaniel College (MD)
Veronica
Sills
Associate Vice Chancellor & Chief Human Resources Officer
North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University
Calley Stevens
Taylor
Vice President for Student Success & Engagement and the Dean of Students
Cedar Crest College (PA)
Abagail
Van Vlerah
Vice President for Student Life and Graduate Admissions
Manchester University (IN)
John A.
Vasquez
Associate Provost
Colorado State University Pueblo
Weston
Wiebe
Chief Financial Officer and Vice President for Finance and Administration
College of the Ozarks (MO)
Our Partners
Applications for the 2025-2026 ELA are open.
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 next program will take place from June 2026 to June 2027
- The deadline for applications and endorsements is February 9, 2026.
Have questions about the Executive Leadership Academy? Let us know.
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