LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT

Across its iterations, ICfAD’s leadership initiatives reflect a clear progression in audience focus, developmental depth, and delivery model. Taken together, the differences among the programs are less about subject matter, which consistently centers on fiscal stewardship, personnel management, and leadership effectiveness, and more about career-stage targeting, intensity and duration of engagement, and the extent to which leadership development is framed as exposure, transition support, or ongoing professional formation.

Please consider joining us - or inviting your colleagues to join us - for any of these programs.

The Fellows Workshop for Aspiring Deans (in person, pre-conference, full-day workshop)
The Fellows Workshop for Aspiring Deans is fundamentally aspirational, designed to identify and encourage emerging leaders, primarily chairs, directors and associate or assistant deans who demonstrate promise for future deanships, pairing them with senior mentors in a concentrated, conference-adjacent experience. The Fellows Workshop for Aspiring Deans strives to promote a healthy and continuous pipeline of talented arts administrators who are prepared to move into leadership positions in our institutions. This full-day, in-person, pre-conference workshop will center on fiscal stewardship, personal management, and leadership effectiveness. Here is the agenda for The Fellows Workshop for Aspiring Deans scheduled for Monday, October 5, 2026 before the 62nd Annual Conference in Detroit. Registration for this workshop is optional and is included in the registration form for ICfAD's 62nd Annual Conference here.

A Workshop for New Deans (in person, pre-conference, full-day workshop)
This workshop shifts the emphasis from aspiration to immediate application, targeting individuals already serving as new deans and equipping them with pragmatic tools to navigate the early complexities of executive leadership. The full-day, in-person, pre-conference workshop is designed to support newly appointed permanent, interim and acting deans in their first two years in the role. The workshop is intended to quickly orient participants to the responsibilities integral to this key leadership position and offers opportunity to learn best practices and network with colleagues. Here is the agenda for a Workshop for New Deans scheduled for Monday, October 5, 2026 before the Annual Conference in Detroit. Registration for this workshop is optional and is included in the registration form for ICfAD's 62nd Annual Conference here.
Proudly sponsored by Perkins Eastman

Leadership Development Program (online, multi-session program)
The online Leadership Development Program represents a structural and philosophical expansion to ICfAD's leadership development program offerings with a multi-session, online model that integrates values-based leadership theory, structured mentoring conversations, and sustained reflection. Here is a syllabus for the Leadership Development Program. Sessions will be scheduled for six non-consecutive Thursday afternoons in September, October, and November, online. Register here. 

Mentors are needed for The Fellows Workshop for Aspiring Deans (in-person, pre-conference) and the Leadership Development Program (multi-week online).

• Fellows Program Mentoring: Mentors will be asked to complete a brief profile form to aid in matching fellows to mentors; review the CV and application of their fellow / mentee prior to the Conference, with a goal of preparing for productive and successful interaction; be asked to attend a briefing prior to the conference, to ensure mutually understood expectations of The Fellows Workshop for Aspiring Deans; meet with your fellow / mentee when possible during the ICfAD Conference; review challenges and discuss professional goals; provide guidance and serve as a resource in terms of next steps for professional development and career planning

• Leadership Development Program Mentoring: Six, two-hour synchronous online classes with thoughtfully curated case studies and breakout discussions are scheduled across a span of Thursday afternoons in September, October, and November. Sessions integrate theories of value-based leadership for organizational change with the practice of leading arts programs during these challenging times. Mentors will be encouraged to attend at least the opening and final sessions. Between online sessions, one-on-one structured conversations with an experienced mentor will allow participants to explore topics ranging from personal mission statements and leadership assessment to inclusion, planning, resource acquisition and management, personnel matters, governance dynamics and career planning. There will be a briefing session for mentors.

Are you an experienced dean who is willing to share time, experience and wisdom with colleagues? Please fill out this form to volunteer to be a mentor. 

Sponsorship opportunities remain available for The Fellows Workshop for Aspiring Deans and the Leadership Development Program.