Emerging Leaders Program

Program Overview

The NACUBO Emerging Leaders Program is a leadership development experience for high-potential finance and business staff at NACUBO-member colleges and universities.

The program seeks to advance the careers of mid-level managers by—

• Enhancing participants' personal leadership skills for their current roles and future opportunities
• Helping participants examine the workings and impact of the higher education business office and cross-campus relationships
• Giving participants a better understanding of the present state and possible futures of higher education
• Broadening participants' networks

The NACUBO Emerging Leaders Program is generously supported by:

Meet NACUBO's Emerging Leaders

• 2023–24 Participants 
• 2022–23 Participants
• 2021–22 Participants

Who Should Apply

The Emerging Leaders Program is a comprehensive leadership development program for finance and business professionals from NACUBO-member colleges and universities. Ideal candidates are mid-level managers two or three roles away from senior leadership positions. Applicants should be identified as professionals who demonstrate a strong desire to remain in higher education finance and administration and have high potential for career advancement.

NACUBO embraces principles and practices that acknowledge value in diversity of race, gender identity and expression, sexual orientation, religion, ethnicity, culture, national origin, physical and mental ability, and all the other fascinating characteristics that make us unique. NACUBO seeks and strongly encourages candidates from under-represented identity groups in higher education leadership (i.e., women, people of color, LGBTQIA+) to apply for the Emerging Leaders Program.

The program represents a substantial investment in the personal and professional development of participants. Applicants for the program should commit to the following:

• Attend and fully participate in the sessions, both online and in person, outlined in the schedule
• Complete the pre-work and intersession work and attend small group meetings
• Apply the learning in current position on campus

The application cycle for the 2024–25 cohort will begin in April 2024.

Schedule

Beginning with a program orientation for participants and their managers in September 2023, the Emerging Leaders Program will include multiple training sessions with the full cohort of participants, meetings of small groups, and individual activities and assignments. The Emerging Leaders Program will conclude in April 2024.

For additional details, including session descriptions, view the program schedule.

CPE Credits

NACUBO is registered with the National Association of State Boards of Accountancy (NASBA) as a sponsor of continuing professional education on the National Registry of CPE Sponsors. Participants in the Emerging Leaders Program may earn up to an estimated 35 CPE credits in categories including Communications and Marketing, Personal Development, and Specialized Knowledge if they participate in all program components. No prerequisites and/or advance preparation are required, aside from the application process. The program is targeted to the intermediate course level.

Application Process

Applications for the 2023–24 cohort have closed. The next application cycle will begin in April 2024.

Applicants should prepare the following supplemental materials to upload as PDFs to complete the application:

• Resume
• Brief Statement: What are your career goals for the next three years? (350 words or less)
• Brief Statement: What do you hope to gain from the Emerging Leaders Program? (350 words or less)