September 10, 2026 – Academic Affairs Leadership Academy Program Kick-Off

9:00am – 4:00pm (Breakfast and Lunch Provided)

October 1, 2026 – The Anatomy of Trust

Trust is at the heart of leadership; you cannot lead those who do not trust you. Covey says we move at the speed of trust—when trust is high, people give you the benefit of the doubt, they find your meaning, they are willing to take a chance. When trust is low, they challenge you every step of the way, they misinterpret you, they assume the worst. It’s our job as leaders to build and cultivate trust—both interpersonally and also among and between the team.

November 5, 2026 – The Power of Delegation

You will learn how to use delegation as a strategic leadership tool to empower your team, manage your own workload more effectively, and create a more sustainable leadership practice. By entrusting others with meaningful responsibilities, you can focus on advancing departmental goals, reduce burnout, and model trust in your faculty and staff. Ultimately, this approach strengthens the department and institution by fostering a culture of growth, innovation, and leadership development.

December 3, 2026 – Holiday Celebration Networking Event

January 14, 2027 – The Secret to Great Feedback

Giving feedback to other faculty or staff in a way that is both direct and respectful is challenging—even for seasoned leaders—especially when the conversation is difficult. Most of us figure it out the hard way by fumbling, softening what we meant to say, or confusing the message. In the long run, avoiding or mishandling these moments can delay a staff member’s professional growth or a faculty member’s promotion and tenure, which can, in turn, impact the research team, unit, and university as a whole. In this training, we’ll explore how to navigate difficult conversations and provide feedback that is timely, constructive, and meaningful. You’ll learn and practice using a simple, yet effective, four-step method to engage in these conversations in a way that feels both collaborative and impactful.

February 11, 2027 – Navigating Difficult Conversations

Knowing how to navigate conflict is critical as a leader. We’ll focus on effective communication, active listening, and problem-solving techniques to address conflicts constructively in the workplace. 

March 18, 2027 – Leading from the Middle – Finding Agency in Your Leadership

You serve in a critical and visible leadership role.  You are the first line of support and direction for faculty and staff within your department/unit.  And you are a conduit that translates and executes institutional plans and priorities across your department/unit.  These roles require you to lead up, down and across effectively, which is a new and larger scope of responsibility compared to being faculty.  In this session, we’re going to dig a little deeper into understanding what it takes to be successful in these new capacities by discussing tips and strategies that will help you lead up, down and across.

April 29, 2027 – Leadership Capstone

In this closing workshop, participants will present their leadership philosophies to the senior leadership of ODU including the Provost and other key leaders who made this session possible. Lunch will be provided.