President and Provost’s Leadership Institute

Are you curious about how academic leadership works behind the scenes? Would you like to build a foundation for future leadership opportunities? Designed for faculty considering formal or informal leadership roles, Program 1: Leadership-Curious provides a low-stakes, high-impact environment to explore the shift from individual impact to collective leadership. Gain a deep understanding of both Ohio State and the broader higher education landscape while building your personal leadership identity, well-being and professional strengths. 

• Identity and Role Transition: Evaluate the transition from individual researcher/educator to collaborative leader. 
• Self-Awareness and Strengths: Assess your leadership strengths using industry-leading validated tools like CliftonStrengths for Leaders and the Leadership Practices Inventory (LPI). 
• Institutional Insight: Uncover the “big picture” of higher education trends, governance and decision-making at Ohio State. 
• Well-Being and Productivity: Develop strategies to maximize capacity, manage micro-stress and integrate AI to optimize your day-to-day workflow. 
• Community Connection: Launch your personal support network through our Partners in Academic Leadership (PALs) peer model, adapted from the renowned work of W.H. Gmelch.

Leading a department, committee, center or program requires more than strategic vision — it demands effective day-to-day leadership and people leadership skills. Program 2: Operational Leadership is geared toward faculty actively leading teams, projects or key operational units. This program focuses on translating leadership theory into everyday practice, helping you build healthy team cultures, navigate difficult conversations, and deliver results through efficient, data-informed execution. 

• Constructive Conflict and Feedback: Practice complex conversations, resolving friction, and delivering feedback that fosters trust and growth. 
• High-Performing Team Culture: Implement servant and transformational leadership practices to facilitate effective team environments, including meetings and communications. 
• Operational Execution: Utilize data-driven decision making, budget analysis, and AI toolsets to optimize unit productivity. 
• Strategic Doing and Change: Learn agile project frameworks (such as Strategic Doing) to lead through disruption and turn complex challenges into innovative outcomes. 
• Peer Support: Deepen your connection with Partners in Academic Leadership (PALs) to navigate active, real-world administrative challenges. 

As a growing or experienced academic leader, driving long-term impact requires strategic vision, agility and the ability to rally diverse stakeholders behind a shared vision. Program 3: Strategic Leadership is designed for faculty leaders focused on creating sustainable change. Harness the power of storytelling, design thinking and resource alignment to spark innovation and lead through institutional complexity. 

• Visionary Storytelling and Design: Craft and communicate compelling strategic visions using design thinking to inspire both internal and external stakeholders. 
• Leading Transformational Change: Build evidence-based change management plans that handle “change noise,” overcome structural friction, address key financial plans and leverage AI strategies. 
• Influence Beyond Borders: Learn to manage “up” and “out” effectively to align senior leaders, supervisors and cross-functional peers with your strategic goals. 
• Agility Through Disruption: Leverage constraints and unexpected disruptions as catalysts for creative innovation and long-term results.
• Executive Network and Advocacy: Expand your network with aspirational Partners in Academic Leadership (PALs) as you advance in your leadership development.