Premised on the belief that leadership can be developed, strong leaders impact organizational health, and strong sectors are led by strong organizations, PNPI’s leadership programming was created to increase the strength of organizations in the federal education policy space by building the capacity of their emerging and senior leaders. Our 2023–24 program focused on senior leaders. The next emerging leaders program will begin in 2025.
The Leadership Development Program (LDP) was created for senior decision-makers in organizations focused on federal education policy (e.g., presidents/CEOs, VPs, directors). Participants must have a minimum of five years of experience in a decision-making role. Preference will be given to individuals in the nonprofit and/or government space. Individuals in the for-profit space will be considered if their organization has a public-facing mission.
The Emerging Leaders Development Program (ELDP) was created for emerging leaders in organizations focused on federal education policy. Participants must have a minimum of three years of experience in the federal education sector and be able to demonstrate that they currently lead or co-lead a project or body of work at their current organization and manage a team of staff and/or interns. While preference will be given to individuals in the nonprofit and/or government sectors, individuals from other sectors will be considered if their organization has a public-facing mission.
More about LDP
To read about our 2023 Leadership Development Program (LDP) cohort please click here.
WHAT IS THE LDP AND WHY WAS IT CREATED?
Launched in 2018, PNPI’s Leadership Development Program (LDP) is a six-month professional development opportunity for leaders in the federal education policy space. Premised on the belief that leadership can be developed, strong leaders impact organizational health, and strong sectors are led by strong organizations, the LDP provides leaders with the skills and community needed to further advance their careers.
WHO WAS THE LDP CREATED FOR?
Senior decision-makers in organizations focused on federal education policy (e.g., presidents/CEOs, VPs, directors). Participants must have a minimum of five years of experience in a decision-making role. Preference is given to individuals in the nonprofit and/or government space. Individuals in the for-profit space are considered if their organization has a public-facing mission.
WHAT CAN PARTICIPANTS EXPECT TO GET OUT OF THE LDP?
- An opportunity to grow and enhance their leadership abilities;
- Tools to increase their organization’s health (access to knowledge and resources);
- Entree into a community of practice with other decision-makers/leadership peers in the education policy space; and
- Peer coaching.
WHAT DOES THE PROGRAM CONSIST OF?
The LDP consists of an orientation followed by four to five one-day leadership development workshops, over six months. Sessions include workshops and peer coaching. Workshops will focus on team building, decision-making, deliberate creativity, facilitating meetings and events, and executive presence. During peer coaching, real-life, real-time challenges and opportunities are explored in smaller groups.
HOW DO I KNOW IF I QUALIFY AS A DECISION-MAKER FOR PURPOSES OF THE LDP?
A decision-maker (DM) is an individual who operates at an executive level in their current organization. DMs should be one of the primary decision-makers in their organization in at least three of the following areas: strategic planning, creation and/or carrying out of mission/vision, finances, HR/hiring, general compliance (including tax/IRS), board governance, and fundraising.
HOW MUCH DOES THE PROGRAM COST?
Our 2023 cohort members were charged a fee of $750 for participants in the non-profit and government sectors. The fee for all other participants was $1,250. Registration fees are assessed after acceptance into the program and must be paid within two weeks of acceptance to reserve a spot in the LDP. Fees for future cohorts have not yet been set.
WILL SCHOLARSHIPS BE OFFERED TO ATTEND?
Scholarships covering full or general registration costs are awarded to individuals in the non-profit or government sector whose organizations specialize in higher education policy. To be considered for a scholarship, applicants must submit an additional essay that addresses why the registration fee is a financial hardship to them and their organization.
WHAT IS THE ATTENDANCE POLICY?
Participants are allowed one absence.
WHEN IS THE PROGRAM BEING HELD?
PNPI is planning to host an emerging leaders cohort in 2025.
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THE PROGRAM ENDS?
Participants will have continued access to program resources, access to continued programming at low or no cost, and an opportunity to come together and network with other education policy professionals.
IS THERE AN OPPORTUNITY TO EARN CREDIT OR A CREDENTIAL?
Upon completion of all required course components, participants are eligible to receive a digital badge. A digital badge is a web-enabled version of a participant’s credential that can be shared with future or current employers online (e.g., on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, or resumes). There is no fee for the badge and acceptance of it lies with the course completer once it is issued by PNPI.
WHAT IF I HAVE MORE QUESTIONS?
If you have additional questions please email us at pnpi@pnpi.org.
To read about our 2019 Leadership Development Program (LDP) cohort please click here.
To read about our 2018 Leadership Development Program (LDP) cohort please click here.
More about ELDP
To read about our 2021 Emerging Leaders Development Program (ELDP) cohort please click here.
WHAT IS THE ELDP AND WHY WAS IT CREATED?
ELDP is modeled on PNPI’s established Leadership Development Program (LDP) and is a professional development opportunity for emerging leaders in the federal education policy space. Premised on the belief that leadership can be developed, strong leaders impact organizational health, and strong sectors are led by strong organizations, the ELDP was created to increase the strength of organizations in the federal education policy space by building the capacity of their emerging leaders.
WHO WAS THE ELDP CREATED FOR?
The ELDP was created for emerging leaders in organizations focused on federal education policy. Participants must have a minimum of three years of experience in the federal education sector and be able to demonstrate that they currently lead or co-lead a project or body of work at their current organization and manage a team of staff and/or interns. While preference will be given to individuals in the nonprofit and/or government sectors, individuals from other sectors will be considered if their organization has a public-facing mission.
WHAT CAN PARTICIPANTS EXPECT TO GET OUT OF THE ELDP?
- An opportunity to grow and develop their leadership abilities;
- Tools, knowledge, and resources to help them strengthen their teams and organizations;
- Entrée into a community of practice with other emerging and established leaders in the education policy space; and
- Peer coaching.
WHAT DOES THE PROGRAM CONSIST OF?
The ELDP consists of an orientation followed by four two-day sessions and a practicum day. Our 2021 cohort ran from May through December with no meetings in August. Sessions include workshops, discussion groups, and peer coaching. Past workshops have focused on developing and impacting effective teams, facilitating engaging meetings and events, confidently communicating about equity, and developing executive presence.
HOW DO I KNOW IF I QUALIFY AS AN EMERGING LEADER FOR THE PURPOSES OF THE ELDP?
An emerging leader is an individual who has at least three years of experience in the federal education policy sector and who has experience with leading or co-leading a project or body of work and managing a team of staff and/or interns.
HOW MUCH DOES THE PROGRAM COST?
Our 2021 pilot charged a fee of $500 for participants in the nonprofit or government sectors and $750 for all other participants. Fees for future cohorts have not yet been set.
WILL SCHOLARSHIPS BE OFFERED TO ATTEND?
Scholarships covering the cost of registration are available to individuals in the government sector who do not have access to professional development funds, and individuals in the nonprofit sector who do not have access to professional development funds and whose organization has an operating budget of less than $1.5 million. To be considered for a scholarship, applicants must submit an additional essay that addresses why the registration fee is a financial hardship to them and their organization. Preference will be given to applicants whose work portfolio is focused on postsecondary education.
WHAT IS THE ATTENDANCE POLICY?
Participants are allowed one absence.
WHEN IS THE PROGRAM BEING HELD?
Our 2021 pilot met from 9:00 a.m. ET to 3:30 p.m. ET on Thursdays, and from 9:00 a.m. ET to 2:30 p.m. ET on Fridays once a month over four months. The next ELDP cohort will be hosted in 2024. Exact session dates for that program have not yet been determined. There are no meetings in August.
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN THE PROGRAM ENDS?
Participants who complete the required course components (attendance, practicum, course evaluation, course assessment interview) will have continued access to program resources, future programming at low or no cost, and PNPI’s leaders’ network at the close of the course. Completers will also be issued a digital badge (more below).
IS THERE AN OPPORTUNITY TO EARN CREDIT OR A CREDENTIAL?
Upon completion of all required course components, participants are eligible to receive a digital badge. A digital badge is a web-enabled version of a participant’s credential that can be shared with future or current employers online (e.g., on LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, or resumes). There is no fee for the badge and acceptance of it lies with the course completer once it is issued by PNPI.
CAN YOU TELL ME MORE ABOUT THE SMALL GROUP SESSIONS?
Friday small group sessions will mix several different modalities: mini-lessons, discussion groups, skill-building practice, and peer coaching. Past topics have included how to make effective requests, creative problem-solving tools, and learning to have fierce conversations.
WHAT IF I HAVE MORE QUESTIONS?
If you have additional questions please email us at pnpi@pnpi.org.
WHAT HAVE FORMER PARTICIPANTS SAID ABOUT PNPI’S LEADERSHIP PROGRAMMING?
“The PNPI Leadership Development Program is an invaluable tool for any higher education leader that wants to improve the management of their organization. In just a few weeks, I learned new skills around creativity, teamwork, decision-making, and executive presence that will last a lifetime. It’s a can’t-miss opportunity for anyone looking to succeed and advance in their current career.” – James Bergeron, President, National Council of Higher Education Resources
“LDP was a fantastic experience and worth every minute of my (scarce) time. I was very lucky to have the opportunity to participate.” – Kevin James, Founder & CEO, Better Future Forward
“PNPI’s leadership program provided a cohort-based training that is unique. One thing I especially valued is how PNPI created a highly-relational environment that fostered trusting and meaningful connections in our group. This allowed us to share real-time cases from our everyday work and generate applicable strategies to improve our own practice in between our monthly sessions. PNPI is an incredible professional development opportunity with phenomenal colleagues in the higher ed policy space.” – Laura Keane, Postsecondary Strategy Consultant (formerly uAspire)
“Participating in LDP was a great personal and professional experience for me. Having a cohort of professionals who work in higher education policy to bounce ideas off of and share experiences with has been a great asset. The sessions and the assignments gave me the opportunity to take time to reflect on my own career and my professional goals which allowed me to move forward in a more intentional manner.” – Amanda Fuchs Miller, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Higher Education Programs, U.S. Department of Education
“PNPI’s Leadership Development Program was a transformative experience for me. The program helped hone some of my leadership skills while venturing into totally new territory with others. The focus on developing effective teams was particularly helpful as my team worked through a reset period, and it aligned well with an already planned retreat that occurred simultaneously. As a result, we have come away with more effective and meaningful team meetings. Moreover, the focus on deliberate creativity provided useful tips and processes for ensuring creativity is a central part of our policy work, and not just when it is obvious to include it. Plus, I now have a network of other higher education leaders in my cohort who I call friends and can call upon for peer mentoring, support, and advice.” – Amy Smith, Policy Advisor, Arnold & Porter
“It was an honor at this stage in my career to learn from and grow alongside other emerging leaders in the federal education policy space, and I’m grateful for the opportunity to develop transformational leadership skills to better support my team at Third Way and the broader higher education advocacy community.” – Nicole Siegel, Senior Program Officer, Gates Foundation (formerly Third Way)
“I was thrilled to be a part of this ELDP cohort of professionals that represented a wide variety of organizations doing important work in the higher education policy field as we sharpened our leadership skills and created lasting partnerships.” –Danielle Zaragoza, Deputy Director, Higher Education Policy, Educate Texas (formerly HCM Strategists)
THANK YOU to Lewis-Burke Associates LLC for sponsoring our 2023 Leadership Development Program!
PNPI is looking for sponsorships for our 2025 Emerging Leaders Development Program, launching next year. Sponsoring ELDP is an opportunity to partner with us as we increase the strength of organizations in the federal education policy space by building the capacity of their senior leaders.
A workshop sponsorship of $5,000 includes:
- Recognition on our website and all social media platforms (Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn)
- Recognition on the official press release announcing the cohort
- A “shout out” during LDP Orientation
- 2 free registrations to our FSA 101 online course
- Funding of 1 leadership workshop
- A PNPI swag bag
A workshop co-sponsorship of $2,500 includes:
- Recognition on our website and all social media platforms (Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn)
- Recognition on the official press release announcing the cohort
- A “shout out” during LDP Orientation
- 1 free registration to our FSA 101 online course
- A PNPI swag item
A lunch sponsorship of $500 includes:
- Recognition on our website and all social media platforms (Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn)
- Funding of 1 lunch for all LDP participants during the program
A snack sponsorship of $200 includes:
- Recognition on our website and all social media platforms (Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn)
- Funding of 1 snack break during the program
A materials sponsorship of $100 includes:
- Recognition on our website and all social media platforms (Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn)
- Funding of books and/or materials for 1 workshop during the workshop
Email us at pnpi@pnpi.org if you are interested in becoming a sponsor.
