2026 Emerging Leaders Institute

The Emerging Leader Institute (ELI) is a leadership development program designed for continuing higher education professionals who want to strengthen their leadership effectiveness through increased self-awareness, intentional communication, and people-centered leadership practices. The program emphasizes practical skill development and reflection to support participants as they grow into more confident and capable leaders within their organizations.

ELI provides a structured learning environment where participants examine how they lead, how they are perceived, and how their leadership choices influence organizational culture and outcomes. The program encourages thoughtful leadership that is grounded in strengths, purpose, and care for people.

Program Focus

The Emerging Leader Institute is built around five core areas of leadership development:

Leadership Inventories
Participants engage with leadership assessment tools such as DISC and the Enneagram to gain deeper insight into their leadership style, behavioral tendencies, and communication preferences. These inventories support increased self-awareness and help participants better understand how they interact with others and approach leadership challenges.

Personal Branding
Through guided personal visioning exercises, participants explore how their professional experiences, values, and lived experiences shape the way they lead. This component helps participants clarify their leadership identity and develop an authentic leadership presence aligned with their strengths and goals.

Appreciative Inquiry
ELI introduces a strengths-based leadership approach that focuses on identifying organizational successes and untapped potential. Participants learn how to recognize what is working well and leverage those strengths to foster engagement, resilience, and positive organizational change.

Strategic Communication
Participants build skills in strategic communication, focusing on communicating with clarity, purpose, and intention. This area emphasizes effective messaging, thoughtful dialogue, and alignment between leadership goals and communication practices.

Leadership Skills
The program emphasizes essential leadership skills, including serving as effective change agents and intentionally protecting and supporting people during periods of change. Participants examine how leaders can guide transitions while maintaining trust, stability, and a people-centered approach.

Through these focus areas, ELI equips participants with practical tools and insights they can apply immediately within their professional roles, supporting leadership growth that is thoughtful, strategic, and grounded in care for others.

Program Structure

ELI is delivered through a blended learning model that combines virtual learning with an intensive in-person experience.

Virtual Sessions

Participants will engage in three virtual sessions, held in:

April
June
August

These sessions introduce core concepts, support reflection, and sustain engagement across the program timeline.

In-Person Experience – ACHE South Conference

The primary in-person component of ELI takes place at the ACHE South Conference and includes eight ELI sessionsdelivered across multiple days:

Monday: One ELI session
Tuesday: One ELI session
Wednesday: Two ELI sessions in the afternoon
Thursday: A full day of ELI programming, consisting of four sessions

This immersive experience allows participants to deepen learning, apply leadership concepts through interactive workshops, and build strong connections within the cohort.

Additional ELI-related engagement opportunities at the ACHE National Conference in Norfolk will be announced once finalized.

Who Should Participate

The Emerging Leader Institute is ideal for professionals who: