Essential Leadership Skills for Deans

Essential Leadership Skills for Deans

November 13 - 14, 2025
Location: TBA

Hone the leadership skills you need in order to address the complex challenges facing higher ed today.

Overview

Leading as an academic Dean demands a specific and often diverse skillset that requires you to inspire those above, across, and below you in the organizational structure. If that’s not complex enough, you’re doing this work in the context of frequent leadership transitions, evolving student needs, increasing competitive pressures, scarce resources, and the highest levels of burnout seen in decades. It quickly becomes clear that being a leader in today’s current higher education environment can test even the most seasoned of leaders.

Join us for this highly interactive in-person conference to learn new strategies and approaches for addressing some of the most common challenges you currently face as a Dean. Special focus will be given to creating a unit culture that makes for a great place to work, and with the help of our expert speaker panel and a network of other deans, you will have the time, space, and support to discuss how to:

  • Flex and adapt your leadership approach, communication, and decision-making to meet others where they are.
  • Build relational capital with others by focusing on win-win outcomes, especially during times of conflict.
  • Design effective meetings that allow for all voices to be heard.
  • Implement proven techniques that encourage your team to work collaboratively to achieve desired outcomes.

Who Should Attend

Since this program focuses on leadership effectiveness and not just on the nuts and bolts of running your college, we invite academic Deans of all experience levels to attend. If you’re looking to grow both your relationships and your influence across your college or institution, this conference is for you.

Attending with your fellow Deans is an effective way to build a community of support on your own campus! Register 3 or more people and save more than $1,000! Discounts will be automatically applied at checkout.

What makes our events different?

Academic Impressions conferences provide the opportunity for quality conversations and relationship-building through both formal and informal networking opportunities in an intimate setting. Our in-depth and hands-on approach to learning provides you with actionable takeaways.

Learn More About the Academic Impressions Conference Experience ➞

Program Highlights

  • Deepen your self-awareness of your leadership styles and ability to conduct effective meetings through the Five Paths to Leadership℠ Self-Assessment debrief.
  • Reflect on your leadership skillset and how it fits in with your teams’ strengths using LEGO® Serious Play® methods.
  • Build a network of Deans to help support your work by sharing your perspective and learning from Deans from other institutions.

Pricing

November 13 - 14, 2025
Location: Atlanta, GA

Starting at:

$2,495
/person

Members get a $250 discount!

What Our Attendees Are Saying

“The Essential Leadership Skills for Deans was insightful and extremely informative. As a new Associate Dean, this has been extremely useful in understanding more of my role. ”

 


 

“I truly enjoyed working with my own team to strengthen our leadership awareness and skills, and it was so beneficial to connect with others from other institutions who have shared experiences.”

 


 

“The program is very effective in providing practical tools for academic Deans. The focus is centered. The facilitators really know their stuff and delivered an effective conference.”