University Women’s Leadership Academy for Mid-Career Professionals
Empowering Courageous Leaders of Change
New and evolving social, political and demographic changes require flexible and knowledgeable mid-level leadership across the university. It is essential for women’s voices to have greater impact on change. During the past 20 years, women’s efforts to exert greater leadership have slowed. Research indicates that women continue to face socio-cultural and structural barriers to university leadership.
The University Women’s Leadership Academy is designed for mid-career professionals who seek to hone and extend their leadership and value to their universities. The Academy emphasizes navigating the overt and covert university. Activities and instruction are led by expert practitioners in areas such as human resources, academic personnel, finance, student affairs, negotiation and collaborating for change.
The Academy champions equity, diversity and inclusion. An overarching goal is to support leaders to harness their strengths and to build university cultures that are inclusive and equitable.
*open to people of all gender identities
The University Women’s Leadership Academy focuses on critical university issues facing mid-level leaders:
- Recruiting and sustaining faculty and staff
- Exploring the value of higher education and the impact of decreasing student enrollment
- Financial issues
- Social and political polarization
- Challenges of DEI
- Artificial Intelligence
- Post-pandemic issues
- The Academy emphasizes career planning and career options.
The Academy highlights in-person and virtual learning in small and larger groups. Each participant belongs to a mentor circle that promotes learning and support.
Academic Information
The Academy seeks to re-imagine university leadership to increase the value of women’s many contributions. Through exploration of professional challenges and experiences, women leverage their multi-dimensional leadership capacities to effect change. Ultimately, leaders are empowered to identify and harness strengths to build university-related cultures that are more inclusive and equitable.
Learning
- Learning is social. Participants explore the experiences of others in Academy discussions and in mentor circles.
- Learning develops from readings, activities and videos related to acting and thinking like a leader, strategic planning, 360° leadership, career development and best practices at universities.
- Learning is guided by expert university educators. They speak to the varied roles and functions across the university.
- Learning how to make university culture more equitable.
Leadership Knowledge and Capacities Across the University
Leadership Skills
- Flexibility in dealing with new and continuing challenges
- Act Like a Leader, Think Like a Leader. (Herminia Ibarra)
- Strategic planning and negotiation
- Aligning leadership skills to university challenges
- Understanding financial issues and the budget
- Navigating the overt and covert university
- Women’s leadership voices
- 360° Leadership
Critical Issues for University Leaders
- Recruiting and sustaining faculty and staff
- Fiscal challenges
- The value of higher education and dealing with decreasing student enrollment
- Post-pandemic issues
- Social and political polarization
- DEI issues
- Artificial Intelligence
Career Shaping
- Branding and Career Planning
- Networking
- Interviewing and negotiation after a job offer
The application materials:
- A letter of intent that includes: a brief description of your leadership experience at a four-year college or university, short-term and long-term goals for doing the UCLA University Women’s Leadership Academy for Mid-Career Professionals, and specific topics that are of interest to you.
- A current resume.
- This application form.
The application deadline is April 1, 2025 (submit materials to Dr. Linda Rose at lrose@g.ucla.edu).
Registration fee for two or more participants from the same university paid by April 20, 2025: $2,650 per person
Registration fee paid by May 1, 2025: $2,800 per person
Payment may be made by check or credit card. UCLA participants may also pay by departmental re-charge.
Two in-person sessions at UCLA:
- Saturday, May 11, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
- Saturday, July 27, 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Ten virtual sessions on Zoom on Thursdays, 6 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.:
- Thursday, May 16, 23, 30
- Thursday, June 6, 13, 20, 27
- Thursday, July 11, 18, 25
