Event Category: Workshop

Essential Leadership Skills for Department Chairs

Leading as an academic department chair is a challenging role, requiring the navigation of competing priorities, resource constraints, and an evolving higher education landscape. This two-day, in-person workshop is designed to equip department chairs with practical strategies to lead effectively. On day one, participants will reflect on their leadership approach, focusing on enhancing influence, engagement, and collaboration. Day two will address managing conflict, offering tools and techniques to handle challenging situations with confidence and ease.   To preserve an intimate and productive experience, this workshop is capped at 30 attendees.

Managing Difficult Faculty and Staff

As a supervisor or leader, responding to difficult faculty or staff is some of the most stressful but rewarding work you can do—if you can do it right. Addressing difficult behavior in those who work for you can transform your team from closed off and avoidant to effective and collaborative. But how do you do this work?  Join us for an in-person workshop to learn how to effectively manage difficult behaviors on your team while still leading with empathy. This unique experience will allow you to:    It can take years to perfect the art of managing difficult faculty or staff when you’re doing it on your own. Come to this workshop and jump-start the process to give yourself a leg up on the most taxing part of your job. 

From Vision to Action: Strategic Planning for a Lasting Impact

This 2-day strategic planning workshop equips higher ed leaders with the tools to create actionable, sustainable strategies aligned with institutional goals. Using design thinking and collaboration, participants will turn broad visions into practical steps for lasting success. You’ll learn to build strategies that inspire buy-in, ensure alignment, and anticipate future challenges.     By the end of the workshop, participants will be equipped to translate their institutional visions into clear, actionable strategies that position them for lasting success.

Five Paths to Leadership® Self-Assessment Facilitation Certification Training

Thousands of faculty and staff across North America have benefited from The Five Paths to Leadership® Self-Assessment because it’s an intuitive and powerful tool that helps them to better understand their natural leadership style and how it changes under stress. By growing their self-awareness, they become more adaptive and responsive leaders, which positions them well for current or future leadership roles, whether in the classroom, in committees, or at the department/unit level.    In addition, insights gained through the Five Paths to Leadership® Self-Assessment can be used to improve interpersonal and team dynamics. For instance, the Five Paths model can you help you and your teams to:    Register early—space is limited to 30 attendees to preserve an intimate and productive experience for all.   Please note that certification enables you to facilitate Five Paths workshops for as many audiences as you’d like, at the organization of your current employment. Facilitation of the Five Paths to Leadership® workshops outside of your organization is expressly prohibited. Earn Your Certificate Earn Your Certificate   Earn a certificate after attending this event. Here’s the process:  

Building an In-House Leadership Development Program in Higher Education

Academic Impressions has helped more institutions to develop in-house leadership programs than any other organization in higher education, and in this flagship two-day event, we’ll share what we’ve learned over 15 years of developing leaders and supporting in-house programs. Whether you are simply dipping your toe into the leadership space for the first time, or you’ve run a successful cohort-based program for years, we’ll share a wealth of resources, methods, and approaches that you can implement right away to develop the next generation of leaders at your institution.  Our Approach   Adaptable: We have intentionally designed our program to explore multiple ways to develop leaders. Whether this is accomplished via one-off programs, cohort programs, or something in between, we’ll show you how our frameworks, models, and content can be adapted to fit your needs.  Human-centered: In addition to sharing proven leadership resources, special attention will be paid to ensuring that your programs center inclusivity and develop innovative and forward-thinking leaders.  Hands-on and Experiential: To help guide you in making critical decisions, we’ll share a workbook we’ve built through 15 years of working with institutions to develop their leadership programs. You’ll also experience firsthand a variety of tools and activities you can integrate into […]

Essential Leadership Skills for Deans

The demands placed on Deans in today’s environment only continue to grow. They must find ways to motivate and inspire those above, across from, and below them while simultaneously fostering a positive culture and climate, innovating to keep their academic program offerings competitive and future-ready, navigating near-constant change. All of this requires a strong sense of self and an executive leadership skillset that must evolve over time.    Join us for an in-person workshop to grow your leadership in community with other Deans facing similar challenges across the country. Together, we will participate in hands-on activities and engage in honest, practical discussion around how you can:      To preserve an intimate and productive experience, this workshop is capped at 30 attendees.

Driving Institutional Strategy as a Chief Strategist or Chief of Staff

The Chief of Staff/Chief Strategy Officer plays a crucial role in addressing critical issues facing an institution, yet they often have a more solitary professional experience than other Vice Presidents and Cabinet members—many times, working through influence rather than via large divisional and organizational chart purview. Join us for this one-of-a kind in-person experience, where you will build community, develop resources, and deepen your understanding of the critical issues facing higher education.  To preserve an intimate and productive experience, this workshop is capped at 30 attendees.

The Fundamentals of Leadership for New or Aspiring Leaders in Higher Education

New leaders often find themselves learning on the go at the expense of intentional reflection on their leadership strengths, journey, or skill development. Join us for this leadership workshop, facilitated by experienced higher education leaders, to apply the key tenets of successful and equitable leadership. You’ll practice how to approach difficult and complex conversations through healthy and constructive dialogue so that you can increase trust, motivation, and engagement within your team. You will also gain the confidence and skills needed to become a more effective leader in higher education, rooted in both a deeper awareness of your core purpose as a leader and in your commitment to equity.  Highlights of the program include: 

Supervision in Advancement: Focused Strategies for Effective Leadership

Advancement supervisors are more critical than ever for building high-performing, collaborative teams that drive robust donor and constituent relationships. Join us for this workshop, where you’ll learn to adapt your leadership style using the Five Paths to Leadership® framework, empowering you to navigate both every day and high-pressure supervisory situations with greater clarity and purpose. We’ll emphasize the critical role of intentional supervision in shaping internal culture and enhancing external impact. Through advancement-specific scenarios and practical tools, you’ll explore how to lead effective meetings, conduct purposeful one-on-ones, and provide meaningful feedback that fosters team growth. Overall, you’ll leave with a deep understanding of a relationship-centered approach to supervision that strengthens both team dynamics and advancement outcomes.

Transformational Gifts: Attaining the Gift of a Lifetime

Transformational gifts are often the result of decades of strategic cultivation and stewardship efforts, culminating in a commitment that positively impacts the institution’s trajectory. However, understanding what motivates and compels donors to make a transformational gift is a key aspect that is missing in many organizations. To advance the vision of your institution, you must learn to successfully navigate both the internal and external complexities of high-level donors and gifts.   In this workshop, our expert panel of speakers will share valuable strategies for cultivating and soliciting your top donors in ways that strongly align with the future of your institution. You will learn how to:   You’ll also have the chance to share best practices and network with advancement professionals from across the country who are inspired to transform higher education and society through philanthropy. If you want to engage in honest conversations about the challenges and triumphs of transformational gift work and leave with an action plan to strengthen your relationships with high-level donors, join us in Austin for this practical and interactive experience.