Louisiana State University seeks to transform the culture of service and faculty leadership, beginning with mid-career faculty who bear significant research responsibilities. Given that research output and productivity hold considerable importance in academia, prioritizing leadership development within this framework ensures that the discourse is both relevant and impactful for individual faculty members and the institution alike. By investing in faculty leadership, we can expect to see tangible improvements in research outcomes, enhanced retention of vital faculty and staff, and, ultimately, a more vibrant and positive institutional culture and climate.
Agenda topics are subject to change based on ongoing collaboration between LSU and Academic Impressions. Please revisit this page for updated pre-work and other information in advance of each session.
August 7, 2025 | 9:00am-4:00pm (Breakfast and Lunch provided)
Welcome & Introductions 9:00am – 9:30am
Empowered Leadership 9:30am – 10:15am There is no one-size-fits-all approach to leadership. Leaders must learn to adapt to different contexts and situations without losing their authenticity or integrity; in fact, the more self-aware a leader is about their own style and approach to leadership, the more successful they will be at adapting to new people and changing realities. In this session, each participant will identify the qualities, skills, and actions that are unique to their personal brand of leadership.
Break 10:15am – 10:30am
Five Paths to Leadership Assessment 10:30am – 12:00pm The Five Paths to Leadership Assessment is a style inventory that enables deep self-awareness about a person’s motivations, fears and insecurities and how that shapes their leadership. The 5 Paths will not only help individual leaders learn more about their own styles of leadership, but how to more effectively work with others who may have different styles.
Lunch 12:00pm – 1:00pm
Facilitating Research Collaboration 1:00 – 2:15pm Scholar leaders must have a collaborative stance to advance their research agendas. Collaboration is difficult in the best of circumstances let alone compounded by the complications of different disciplinary cultures, dynamics related to seniority or corralling faculty who have competing priorities. In this session we’ll use the Five Paths to Leadership model to unpack what we each need from research collaborations and how to engage a diverse team successfully.
Break 2:15 – 2:30pm
Facilitating Collaborative Connections 2:30pm – 3:45pm The Academy for Scholars as Leaders presents a unique opportunity to facilitate cross-disciplinary connections. In this session, we’ll begin to identify areas of mutual interest or needs to facilitate the sharing of information, resources or ideas. The goal of this session is two-fold: to identify opportunities that can be pursued or supported through collaboration and to model effective ways of collaborating across disciplines.
Wrap Up 3:45pm – 4:00pm
August 8, 2025 | 9:00am-3:30pm (Breakfast and Lunch provided)
Check-in & Reflections from Day 1 9:00am – 9:30am
Skillfully Resolving Conflict 9:30am – 10:45 am Healthy teams know how to distinguish between productive and unproductive conflict; and they have the skillset to engage in difficult conversations—whether that’s providing feedback or resolving a high stakes question. In this session, we’ll share a practical model for understanding and engaging in difficult conversations and role play real-life scenarios that scholar leaders face regularly.
Break 10:45 am– 11:00 am
High Performing Teams 11:00 am – 2:15 pm (Lunch built into session 12:00pm – 1:00 pm) Large research projects are led by teams but most scholar leaders never learn how to create the conditions so that a group of people become greater than the sum of their parts. In this session we’ll discuss 7 strategies that scholar leaders can practice in order to cultivate and enhance the level of trust and psychological and of their team—the two key enables of team performance. We’ll then put you through a simulation to see how well you can apply what you just learned!
Break 2:15 pm– 2:30 pm
Action Planning and Synthesis 2:30 – 3:30pm In this final session, we’ll synthesize the learning from the two days and identify specific opportunities that participants will pursue.
September 19, 2025 | 2:30pm-4:30pm | The Anatomy of Trust– Kristin Sosnowsky
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.
October 10, 2025 | 2:30pm-4:30pm | The Secret to Great Feedback– Jane Cassidy
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.
November 21, 2025 | 2:30pm-4:30pm | The Power of a Coaching Approach for Faculty Leaders- Jeff Blackmon
Building on last month’s session on giving direct, respectful, and constructive feedback, this session will focus on how a coaching approach can strengthen your leadership. You’ll reflect on the progress you’ve made toward the leadership commitment you set earlier in the program, learn core coaching skills to guide and empower others, and practice applying them with peers in your cohort. A coaching approach not only makes feedback more impactful—it builds trust, accountability, and problem-solving across your team.
January 16, 2026 | 2:30pm-4:30pm | Adaptive Leadership (LSU)– Lori Martin
This session will explore the practice of leadership and ways to think about the challenges and opportunities associated with mobilizing others to tackle tough challenges and thrive. There is a required reading that you should access prior to the session. Please be prepared to discuss your reflections individually and in our group setting.
February 13, 2026 | 2:30pm-4:30pm | Boundary-Setting for Work/Life Integration- Jane Cassidy
Work-life integration is key to faculty well-being. Yet, many post-tenure faculty are disheartened to find that aligning their ways of working with their personal values can be difficult as they advance in their career. And for some, that misalignment is a deterrent to moving into leadership. In this meeting, you’ll explore how an outcome-driven approach to prioritization and boundary-setting can help you create room on your calendar for the work that matters and enhance work-life integration.
March 20, 2026 | 2:30pm-4:30pm | Mentoring with Purpose: Supporting Junior Scholars and Advancing Your Research Legacy- Lori Martin
This presentation explores how purposeful mentoring can strengthen both individual development and collective research impact. It offers practical strategies for supporting junior faculty and students in ways that align with your scholarly goals, foster a collaborative research culture, and contribute to a lasting academic legacy.
April 17, 2026 | 2:30pm-4:30pm | The Power of Influence: Leading Research Faculty and Crafting Your Leadership Philosophy – Kristin Sosnowsky
Leading research faculty requires more than management—it takes influence. In this session, you’ll learn strategies to continue to build trust, credibility, and alignment with faculty while navigating their unique priorities. You’ll also begin drafting your own leadership philosophy statement, creating a clear framework to guide your values, decisions, and impact as a leader.
May 12, 2026 | 9:00am-4:00 pm (Breakfast and Lunch provided) | Leadership Capstone
In this closing workshop, participants will present their leadership philosophies to the senior leadership of LSU including the Provost and other key leaders who made this session possible.
