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University Women’s Leadership Academy for Mid-Career Professionals*

Empowering Courageous Leaders of Change *open to people of all gender identities
ucla campus
Mission of the Academy

In this time of social and demographic changes across universities, exceptional leadership is critical. But, women's efforts to reach higher levels of university leadership have slowed in the past 20 years. Research suggests that women face socio-cultural and structural barriers to leadership in higher education.

The University Women's Leadership Academy is designed for mid-career professionals who want to expand their leadership and value to their universities. The program re-imagines the roles and impact of women in their current and future university positions.

Content of the Academy focuses on expanding knowledge about the overt and covert university and on honing leadership capacities. Activities and instruction are led by experts from varied universities in areas that include human resources, academic personnel, business, student affairs, departmental leadership challenges, information technology, and operations. Leadership skills that are emphasized include facilitation, career-building, negotiation, mentoring and sponsoring, self-advocacy, problem-solving, and collaborating for change.

The academy champions equity, diversity, and inclusion. An overarching goal is to support leaders who are empowered to identify and harness strengths to build university cultures that are more inclusive and equitable.

The University Women's Leadership Academy

  • Enhances the value of university women's voices and contributions
  • Engages women in envisioning institutional change
  • Expands women's capacity to lead
  • Enlarges women's ability to navigate the observable and unseen university
  • Encourages women to understand varied university roles 
  • Embraces equity, diversity and inclusion
  • Elevates women's confidence in their own abilities
  • Empowers women to support each other
  • Enables women to visualize their professional options

The Academy highlights learning virtually in small and larger groups and in mentor circles to promote interaction and support between participants.


2023 Zoom Schedule:

  • Five Saturday mornings, 9 a.m. - 1 p.m.
    January 28, March 4, April 1, May 6, May 20
  • Seven Thursday evenings, 6:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
    February 16, March 16, April 13, May 18, June 8, June 15, June 29

Why Participate in UCLA University Women’s Leadership Academy?

The Academy seeks to re-imagine university leadership to include and value the impact and contributions of women. 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.

Definitions

Mid-career refers to university educators who have had a professional role at their universities for more than five years and would like to expand their leadership options. Work experience of participants has ranged from approximately five to several dozen years. They want to increase the scope of their leadership.

Leadership is transformative and not transactional. It takes place across many roles and in many places in the university. It may be positional or personal. It involves social or organizational structures in influencing others to achieve a goal.

Guiding Values

  1. University women leaders designed the Academy and provide ongoing consultation to assist the program to meet the needs of mid-career women
  2. Provide content that examines observable and hidden university elements and connects these to women's voices, core values, and capacities
  3. Assist women to expand their own leadership and to support the leadership of others
  4. Increase the value that women professionals bring to their universities 
  5. Enhance the ability to promote equity, diversity, and inclusion across the university
  6. Understand professional roles in varied types of universities

 

Learning

Learning is social. Participants learn from experiences with others in Academy discussions and in mentor circles.

Learning develops from readings related to acting and thinking like a leader, strategic planning, adaptive leadership, career development processes, and best practices in university units.

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. This includes learning about fiscal practices, strategic decision making, human resources, academic personnel and talent development, student affairs and information technology.

Learning through expanding career vision and self-development.

Linda Rose, Ph.D., Founder University Women's Leadership Academy

UCLA University Women’s Leadership Academy for Mid-Career Professionals

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Founder & Leader