Dartmouth Leads Academy

Leadership is about inspiring others, cultivating collaboration, and delivering results. Dartmouth Leads Academy empowers emerging leaders to grow their skills, connect across Dartmouth, and make a lasting impact. This dynamic, nine-month, cohort-based, hybrid program, combining in-person and online learning experiences, brings together a diverse cross-section of Dartmouth staff for an engaging and flexible professional development experience.

About the Program

Over the course of nine months, participants will:

  • Create a personalized leadership development plan tailored to their strengths and growth areas.
  • Work on an Action Learning Project (ALP): Collaborate with a team to address a campus-wide strategic priority. The ALP is presented to senior leaders, the cohort, and managers. (Projects do not need to be fully completed but should align with a Dartmouth strategic initiative.)
  • Strengthen communication and leadership skills to lead with confidence.
  • Build cross-institutional networks through a collaborative learning community.
  • Foster inclusive environments by developing skills that promote diversity, equity, and inclusion.


Dartmouth Leads Academy is a selective program. Individuals must be nominated by their divisional leader in consultation with their supervisor. Nomination does not guarantee acceptance.

Read the LEADS FAQs

Nomination & Eligibility

We encourage nominations of individuals ready to take their leadership to the next level.

Eligibility criteria:

  • Demonstrated high potential for a leadership role.
  • Ability to commit to one full day per month of learning and 6–8 hours per month of additional program activities.
  • Positional authority to lead and influence change within their team, committee, or department.
  • Commitment to self-awareness, professional growth, and leadership development.
  • Will benefit from cross-institutional exposure and network building.

 

Important deadlines:

Nomination submission: Monday, April 6, 2026, by 5:00 p.m. No late nominations accepted.
Nominee materials (resume and co-signed supervisor commitment letter): Friday, May 29, 2026, by 5:00 p.m. No late submissions accepted.

[Nominate Now]
[Download Information Packet]

The Role of the Supervisor

Supervisor support is essential for participant success. Participants cannot be accepted without a committed supervisor.

Supervisor expectations:

Sign a letter of co-commitment for the nominee.
Support the nominee’s time commitment to program sessions and activities.
Attend an introductory session reviewing the supervisor’s role.
Participate in a mid-program check-in session.
Conduct a monthly learning conversation with the nominee.


2026–2027 Program Sessions

Kick-off Breakfast (in-person)

Kick-off Breakfast will be held in-person.

Tuesday, September 1, 2026, 8:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

  • Breakfast (for cohort and supervisors): 8:30 a.m. - 10:30 a.m.
  • Cohort Meeting: 10:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
  • Cohort Lunch 12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.
     

Learning Days will be held via Zoom, unless otherwise specified.
Each learning day has an optional networking event held from 8:30 a.m. to 9:00 a.m.

    • Tuesday, October 6, 2026, 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
    • Tuesday, November 3, 2026, 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. 
    • Tuesday, December 1, 2026, 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. 
    • Tuesday, January 12, 2027, 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. (To be held in-person)
    • Tuesday, February 9, 2027, 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. 
    • Tuesday, March 9, 2027, 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. 
    • Tuesday, April 6, 2027, 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. 
    • Tuesday, May 4, 2026, 8:30 a.m. - TBD Action Learning Project Presentations (To be held in-person)
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