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.

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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.”

Harvey Kesselman

President
Stockton University (NJ)

“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.”

Barbara Lyman

Interim Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs
State University of New York at New Paltz

Ken Iwama, chancellor of Indiana University Northwest, shares his experience at the Executive Leadership Academy.

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

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

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

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

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 for our 2025-2025 ELA cohort will open in November.

Sign up to receive notifications about participating in a future cohort.

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 9, 2025.

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