October 21, 2025
Vocational Calling at the Heart of CIC’s Presidential Development Programs
Lilly Endowment Inc. awarded the Council of Independent Colleges (CIC) a $1,765,000 grant to continue two highly successful leadership development initiatives for college and university presidents, the Presidential Vocation and Institutional Mission (V&M) program and the Presidential Renewal program. Lilly Endowment Inc. is a longtime supporter of CIC’s leadership development efforts, having funded the V&M program since 2005 and the Presidential Renewal program since 2023.
This four-year grant will support three cohorts of aspiring and current presidents at CIC member institutions in each program between 2026 and 2029, serving nearly 100 higher education leaders and their spouses or partners. The programs are designed to strengthen leadership at independent colleges and universities through vocational exploration and renewal.
“In this time of turmoil facing independent higher education, it is more vital than ever to cultivate and support strong leaders for colleges and universities,” said CIC President Marjorie Hass. “These programs help ensure the longevity and effectiveness of leadership at smaller institutions, particularly those that are members of CIC.”
The grant will allow for the V&M program to prepare 20 aspiring presidents each year to reflect on their personal vocation for academic leadership and align their goals with the mission of the institutions they aspire to serve. This program was designed for senior administrators at independent colleges and universities who are considering a presidency, exploring vocation from a variety of theological and secular perspectives and guiding prospective presidents in discernment of how their own motivations and an institution’s core purposes can be aligned.
The Presidential Renewal program will provide support to 12 experienced presidents each year who have led their institutions for at least four years. The program draws on the same foundations in vocational exploration and discernment as the V&M program, but its focus is on offering rejuvenation and renewed purpose. Participants can look forward to physical, intellectual, and spiritual renewal and a practical action plan for personal sustainability to strengthen their leadership momentum and nurture a meaningful presidency.
Each of the year-long programs includes two in-person seminars and ongoing peer connections to build community among participants to forge a network of supportive peers and mentors experienced in this challenging work. The programs have consistently attracted more applicants than available spots and have received excellent testimonials from past participants. A unique aspect of these programs is their inclusion of spouses and partners as participants, as they play an integral role in the success of a college or university presidency.
CIC is grateful for Lilly Endowment’s long-standing support and commitment to strengthening leadership in higher education. For more information, visit cic.edu.
About CIC
The Council of Independent Colleges (CIC) is an association of more than 700 nonprofit independent colleges and universities, state-based councils of independent colleges, and other higher education affiliates, that works to support college and university leadership, advance institutional excellence, and enhance public understanding of independent higher education’s contributions to society. CIC is the major national organization that focuses on services to leaders of independent colleges and universities and state-based councils. Founded in 1956, CIC is headquartered at One Dupont Circle in Washington, DC.