The Council of Independent Colleges (CIC) and the American Academic Leadership Institute (AALI) are pleased to announce the 2022–2023 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.

Every SLA seminar, discussion, and activity I attended was well-organized, thoughtful, relevant, engaging, and informative. Dr. Bleicken and her team mean business, and they get it done! We dug in and explored a whole host of important topics seriously and thoroughly. We also laughed and found inspiration…. I truly treasure the collegial relationships I built over the course of the year. I highly recommend this program to anyone aspiring to advance their understanding of, investment in, and connection to higher education leadership.”—Cory D. Wikan, SLA 2020–2021, Dean, Hurley School of Music, Centenary College of Louisiana

​The program consists of:

• Two seminars—one in Dallas, Texas, November 4–6, 2022, and the other in Washington, DC, June 15–17, 2023—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 Senior Leadership Academy will return to a face-to-face model this fall, holding its 2021–2022 opening seminar in Louisville, Kentucky, November 5–7, 2021, in conjunction with the Institute for Chief Academic Officers, with Chief Student Affairs and Chief Diversity Officers.

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.

Among the elements of the SLA that I valued highly was the opportunity to create a robust professional development plan unique to my own aspirational needs. This, in conjunction with the support of my home institution, allowed me to explore avenues of learning that will ultimately prepare me for professional advancement in the future. Another highlight of the program was the exposure to leaders across the country, many of whom are SLA alumni, and others who could provide insight on how to develop our personal statements and candidacy for future leadership positions. Overall, I would highly recommend this program to anyone who desires to gain a broader context of educational leadership, and to enrich their professional trajectory with this knowledge.”—Gabrielle Gomez Singh, SLA 2020–2021, Associate Vice President of Advancement, University of Redlands

With generous support from AALI, CIC offers fellowships to advance the gender, racial, and ethnic diversity of the leadership pipeline. Preference will be given to nominees from under-resourced institutions that otherwise might be unable to support their participation. Nominators should indicate on the nomination form if their nominee should be considered for a fellowship.

​The fall seminar will be held in Dallas TX, November 4–6, 2022. The closing seminar will be held in Washington, DC, June 15–17, 2023.

The individual program fee for the 2022–2023 academic year is $2,400, which includes all program costs as well as meals during the two seminars. Participants or their institutions are responsible for travel and lodging expenses.

​For questions about the nomination process, selection process, or program logistics, contact Alana Cassidy, director of sponsorships, CIC, at acassidy@cic.edu or (202) 466-7230.

For questions about program content, contact Linda Bleicken, president, AALI, at linda@americanali.org or (202) 263-7488.