Women’s Leadership Program
Women’s Leadership Program
The Women’s Leadership Program (WLP) is an annual (January – December) cohort-based initiative designed to help mid-career faculty members to enhance their leadership skills and develop a community of support for aspiring women-identifying leaders. Through monthly cohort meetings, guest speakers, community building, interactive activities, and coaching sessions, participants will be better prepared to exert their influence regardless of their titles and positions in the university. The program serves as a confidential space for participants to discuss barriers to advance to leadership positions in the institution and strategies to overcome them from an intersectional perspective.
Program Goals
The goals of the program are to:
- Provide tools, resources, and opportunities focused on the navigation of institutional and societal barriers for women to help mid-career faculty members grow as leaders within our academic community.
- Establish a community of support for current and aspiring women-identifying leaders through the creation of a bench of faculty members prepared to assume academic leadership positions.
- Advance an institutional culture that supports pathways and reduces barriers for women to become leaders.
2025 Schedule
The program will consist of monthly cohort meetings for participants to build a sense of community, receive feedback, and further develop their own skills. Below is a list of topics for the program
| Topic |
| Welcome and Understanding Our Leadership Strengths and Styles |
| Exploring Different Paths and Approaches to Leadership |
| Leading Organizational Change |
| Fostering Inclusive Leadership Skills |
| Sustaining Ourselves in Challenging Times (Work/Life Balance) |
| Managing Conflict and Having Difficult Conversations |
| Advocating for Our Needs |
| Finance and Budgeting Skills |
| Leading with Resilience and Agency |
| Leadership Project Showcase and Closing Ceremony |
All meetings will be held on Fridays from 8:30am – 1:00pm on the following dates:
- January 24
- February14
- March 7
- April 4
- May 9
- June 6
- September 19
- October 17
- November 14
- December 12
Target Audience
The program is designed for:
- Full-time faculty members at Tufts University.
- Mid-career faculty members. (For the purposes of this program, mid-career is defined as faculty who have held a faculty appointment for at least seven years.)
- Individuals who demonstrate a strong commitment to fostering an institutional climate that supports the development and success of women-identifying leaders.
Although not mandatory, preference will be given to applicants who have completed one or more leadership programs such as, The Academic Leadership Development Program (ALD), TUSM Office of Educational Affairs Educational Management and Leadership Seminar, or other introductory internal or external leadership development programs.
Applicants will not be discriminated against based on any aspect of their identity
To apply:
If you are interested in applying for the program, please complete the application by December 5, 2024. Application decisions will be made by the organizing committee with input from deans, and will be based on potential to demonstrate effective leadership and commitment to creating a culture that supports the development of women leaders. Additionally, we aim to create a cohort that represents a diversity of experiences and roles.