About the Academy
The Council of Independent Colleges (CIC) and the American Academic Leadership Institute (AALI) are pleased to announce the 2024–2025 Senior Leadership Academy (SLA), a yearlong program for administrators in higher education who aspire to cabinet-level positions in independent colleges or universities. Participants will acquire knowledge, skills, and experience germane to the responsibilities and activities central to the work of a vice president or cabinet officer.
Leaders for a New Era
The SLA fills a gap in the current leadership pipeline by preparing talented leaders with the skills needed to advance to a senior leadership position on campus. The SLA also helps participants broaden their understanding of the higher education ecosystem and of the full range of leadership roles needed for institutional success.
“The Senior Leadership Academy provided a collegial and collaborative environment in which I could explore my professional values and discern my own vocational pathway in higher education. Learning from and alongside experienced administrators and presidents who were open, vulnerable, and real about the opportunities and challenges of higher education was invaluable. This was professional development and relationship building at its best.”
SARAH NYTROE, SLA 2022–2023, DIVISION HEAD OF LIBERAL ARTS AND SOCIAL SERVICES, DESALES UNIVERSITY (PA)
Program Details
The program consists of:
- Two seminars—one in Portland, Oregon, October 31-November 2, 2024, and the other in Washington, DC, June 10–11, 2025—led by current Presidents, Vice Presidents, and other senior leaders in higher education as well as experts in key areas;
- Readings in leadership theory and practice;
- Professional Experience Plan (PEP), a highly individualized plan to fill gaps in the participant’s expertise and experience;
- Mentorship by both the participant’s campus mentor and the program director;
- Individualized executive coaching throughout the program; and
- Webinars, regional gatherings, book groups, campus visits, and other activities developed by participants.
“The SLA guidance and networking positioned me well to transition to a vice presidency. I wholeheartedly recommend SLA to anyone with a
MICHAEL J. MARSHALL, SLA 2018-2019, VICE PRESIDENT FOR ENROLLMENT, MARKETING AND COMMUNICATION, BELLARMINE UNIVERSITY (KY)
desire to advance and thrive as a higher education senior administrator.”
Nomination Details
The program is intended for individuals whose next position would likely be a cabinet position in academic affairs, student affairs, finance and administration, enrollment management, or advancement, and whose current position might be assistant or associate provost, assistant or associate vice president, academic dean, assistant or associate dean, academic division chair, or administrative director. Approximately 40 participants from independent colleges and universities will be selected.
Individuals who wish to participate should ask the president, provost, or a vice president of their current institution to submit the nomination.
To submit a nomination, please refer to the brochure and online nomination form.
The nomination packet is due by Friday, February 23, 2024, 5:00 p.m. EST. Selection of participants will be announced by March 29, 2024.
Program Results
Since 2010, 153 of the participants in the ten cohorts that have completed the Senior Leadership Academy have experienced career advancement. In addition to the professional advancement of participants, successful outcomes also occur when participants strengthen their leadership in their current positions.
“This has been a great program in all sorts of ways. Before I began the program, I was in need of mentors and colleagues in a similar situation and mindset as me. I also needed more clarity about my future path and how to make job application decisions. SLA was
AMANDA KRAUSE, SLA 2022–2023, DIRECTOR OF INTERNATIONAL PROGRAMS, MOUNT ST. MARY’S UNIVERSITY (MD)
integral to all of these developments for me this past year. I am eternally grateful.”
Diversity Fellowship
With generous support from AALI, CIC offers fellowships to encourage broad and representative participation in SLA. Preference is given to nominees from under-resourced institutions that otherwise might be unable to support their participation. Nominators should indicate whether they wish a nominee to be considered for a Fellowship.
Location and Costs
The fall seminar will be held in Portland, OR, October 31-November 2, 2024. The closing seminar will be held in Washington, DC, June 10–11, 2025. The individual program fee for the 2024–2025 academic year is $2,850, which includes all program costs as well as meals during the two seminars. Participants or their institutions are responsible for travel and lodging expenses.
“AALI and SLA provided me the opportunity to network and learn from talented leaders and experts in higher education and develop critical skills needed to advance my career and take the next steps in my career journey. Under the well-designed SLA program, I’ve learned and developed more in the last year as an academic administrator and educator than the previous 5 years combined.”
GREG PILLAR, SLA 2022–2023, ASSOCIATE PROVOST FOR ACADEMIC AFFAIRS, QUEENS UNIVERSITY OF CHARLOTTE (NC)
Contact Information
For questions about the nomination process, selection process, or program logistics, contact Marina Esteve Wagstaff, Assistant to the Senior Vice President for Academic Programs and Program Coordinator, CIC, at mwagstaff@cic.edu or (202) 552-8986.
For questions about program content, contact Javier Cevallos, President, AALI, at javier@americanali.org or (202) 263-7488.