Leadership Academy

The CFDE Leadership Academy is designed to help faculty consider leadership strategies and approaches that can support them at any point in their career.

Academy Objectives

  • To provide accessible leadership professional development opportunities to faculty at Emory
  • To collectively examine research-based approaches and strategies around leadership
  • To consider what it means to be a leader in both formal positions and everyday situations. What does it mean to lead from where you are?
  • To build a community of learners and leaders

 See Leadership Certification below for additional program information.

Overview

This year in the CFDE Leadership Academy we will continue to off thethree core seminars: Productive Meeting Practices, Inclusive Leadership, and Leading Change.If you are interested in bringing any of these sessions to your department, please contact Liesl Wuest (lwuest@emory.edu).

Our strategy series will take a look at how we can create policies and workplace norms that holistically support the entire community through a group book read, keynote from the author, and discussion. The Caring University (request here or below) explores how higher education leaders can create workplaces where faculty and staff feel valued, supported, and able to thrive.

Season 3 of the podcast series Leadership is Listening will be back in the spring with a new set of podcasts to listen, consider and discuss.

And we will continue to focus on buildingrelationships with a Faculty Leaders reception for all session participants as well as more Lawn Bowling with Leaders this fall.

We can’t wait for you to join us!

Fall 2026 Programming

Core Session: Productive Meeting Practices

  • Date/Time: Wednesday, September 16th, 1:00 – 2:15
  • Location: Woodruff Library, Room TBD
  • Objectives: 
    • Consider and discuss research-based strategies that can make teamwork and meetings run more efficiently
    • Consider how group dynamics might influence meetings
REGISTER

Core Session: Inclusive Leadership: The Theory & Practice

  • Date/Time: Monday, October 26th, 11:00 – 12:15
  • Location: Woodruff Library, Suite 217 Classroom
  • Objectives:
    • Become familiar with the theory and research behind Inclusive Leadership
    • Reflect on this approach to leadership
    • Consider strategies that support Inclusive Leadership

REGISTER

Strategy Series: The Caring Univeristy

Request a copy of the book

Pre-Talk Book Discussion

  • Date/Time: Thursday, 
  • Location: Woodruff Library
  • Objectives:
    • Become familiar with the theory and research behind Inclusive Leadership
    • Reflect on this approach to leadership
    • Consider strategies that support Inclusive Leadership

Keynote from Author

  • Date/Time: Friday, January 8th, 9:00 am - 11:00 am, a light breakfast is included
  • Location: TBD
  • Objectives:
    • Hear from the author about key findings from the book and ideas to consider
    • Participate in Q&A
    • Network with others interested in exploring policies introduced in the book

Post-Talk Book Discussion

  • Date/Time: Wednesday, November 18th, 10:00 – 11:15
  • Location: Woodruff Library, Suite 217 Classroom
  • Objectives:
    • Become familiar with the theory and research behind Inclusive Leadership
    • Reflect on this approach to leadership
    • Consider strategies that support Inclusive Leadership
About the Book

The Caring University by Dr. Kevin McClure, explores how higher education leaders can create workplaces where faculty and staff feel valued, supported, and able to thrive. Drawing on research and insights from across higher education, it offers practical strategies for addressing burnout, strengthening engagement, and building a culture of care that benefits both employees and students. For faculty interested in leadership development, the book provides a compelling framework for leading with empathy, fostering belonging, and creating sustainable, people-centered academic environments.

Lawn Bowling with Leaders

Lawn Bowling with Leaders invites faculty to join another faculty leader for an hour of fun and learn about their career path, what brings them joy, and more! We hope this brings a little bit of fun, fresh air, and conversation for all of us. 

Space is limited, so please ensure that you will be able to make the game before reserving a spot. Once the spots a full a waitlist will be created. If something changes and you are no longer able to come, please cancel your reservation so that someone from the waitlist can take your spot. 

Upcoming Games

Fall games will be scheduled soon!

Spring Programming

Invited Speaker: Dr. Kevin McClure, author of The Caring University

  • Date/Time: Friday, January 8th, 9:00 am - 11:00
  • Location: TBD, includes a light breakfast
  • Objectives:
    • Become 

Follow-up Discussion: The Caring Univeristy

  • Date/Time: 
  • Location: Woodruff Library, Room TBD
  • Objectives:
    • Follow up disucssion about The Caring Univeristy and talk by the author, Dr. Kevin McClure

Core Session: Leading Change

  • Date/Time: 
  • Location: Woodruff Library
  • Objectives:
    • Become 

REGISTER

Leadership is Listening Community of Practice

  • Dates/Time: 1:00 - 2:15
    • March 3rd
    • March 17th
    • March 24th
    • March 31st
  • Location: CFDE, Woodruff Library Suite 216
  • Objectives:
    • Listen to and discuss contemporary leadership research and approaches
    • Learn from each other and our collective experiences

REGISTER

More Info

The CFDE will offer a series of seminars on specific topics, interactive facilitation strategies, and focused communities of practice. Each session will have a reflection question and activity that faculty can choose to do to works towards certificate completion. 

To achieve any level of certification, participate in:

  • Any 3 seminar sessions  + complete a reflection in practice activity. Everyone session will have an optional reflection in practice activity.

OR

  • Participate in all sessions of a community of practice + complete 1 reflection in practice activity

Once you have completed the above criteria, you will receive the CFDE Leadership Academy Certificate of Completion Level I. If you complete the critera a second time, you will be at Level II, etc.

Certification Benefits

  • Increase your self-knowledge around effective leadership practices through exploration, discussion, and reflection in practice
  • Add your certification level on your CV to communicate professional development experience

A goal of the CFDE Leadership Academy is to create space for faculty to learn from one another. What better way to learn from a leader than to play bocce with them?

Lawn Bowling, aka bocce, sounds fun! Do I need to know how to play? 

No! Bocce is an easy yard game where all you have to do is roll a bigger ball at a smaller ball. You will play as a team, so no pressure! 

 

What if it rains? It might be hard to hold an umbrella and roll a ball…

If it rains will meet in the CFDE (Woodruff 216) for an indoor game and a hot beverage.