GWALA
Developing Academic Leaders
The GW Academic Leadership Academy (GWALA) facilitates cross-institutional networking among academic leaders. It was designed to build leadership capacity for the participating schools and units.
We are pleased to announce that we are opening up the nomination process for GWALA Cohort 6 which will run from September 2025 through April 2026.
As a year-long, cohort-based program, participants will benefit from a CV-worthy experience that considers their well-being and helps them develop leadership skills while building lasting relationships with colleagues across GW.
We encourage you to read the recent article highlighting this year’s participants and their work in GW Today's "Academic Leadership Academy Celebrates Cohort 5." Additionally, this this April 28th GW Hatchet article provide more context and interviews with GWALA alum.
GWALA Objectives:
- Enhance Understanding: Deepen your institutional knowledge of GW’s culture and management practices.
- Reflect and Grow: Examine and develop your personal leadership style, fostering greater self-awareness.
- Develop Leadership Skills: Build your leadership toolbox and cultivate inclusive leadership skills to address challenges in higher education.
- Broaden Networks: Connect with and learn from a diverse array of GW’s senior leaders to expand your professional network.
- Engage in Peer Mentoring: Collaborate with colleagues to address real-world challenges in your current role.
- Apply Learning: Focus on a work-related project to implement the leadership skills acquired during the program.
Each fellow selects a project to serve as a focus for applying what they learn in a real-world scenario. Some focus on a new initiative while others choose their department or program to serve as their "project." Looking back on their experiences, a number of fellows reported that their ability to focus on a "long-overdue" project finally positioned them to successfully finish what would have otherwise remained on their important/not urgent To Do lists.
Commitment Required:
- Active Participation: Engage fully in seven scheduled seminars throughout the year.
- Project Leadership: Lead a project that will serve as a practical case study for applying your new skills.
- Dedicated Time Investment: Allocate approximately 2-4 hours per month to complete required assignments.
Meet our Graduates