These sessions will be facilitated by Yvette Pearson and Janice Hawkins, developed in partnership with Academic Impressions. Themes may be adjusted as needed, based on needs and requests of participants. 

October 16, 2025 | 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 20, 2025 | Influencing Up, Down, and Across 

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.
 

December 11, 2025 | Holiday Celebration Networking Event  

January 15, 2026 | 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 19, 2026 | Practical Conflict Resolution Skills for Leaders – Part 2

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 12, 2026 | The Power of Delegation and Crafting Your Leadership Philosophy 

In this session, academic leaders will learn how to use delegation as a strategic leadership tool to empower their teams, manage their own workload more effectively, and create a more sustainable leadership practice. By entrusting others with meaningful responsibilities, department heads can focus on advancing departmental goals, reduce burnout, and model trust in their faculty and staff. Ultimately, this approach strengthens the department and institution by fostering a culture of growth, innovation, and leadership development.  You’ll also begin drafting your own leadership philosophy statement, creating a clear framework to guide your values, decisions, and impact as a leader. 

April 16, 2026 | 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.