Leadership Development Institutes

“People. Purpose. Action: Growing ourselves to grow others!”

-Georgia Southern University Vision Statement

In collaboration with the Office of the President, the Office of Organizational Effectiveness, Leadership Development, and Engagement, leads the Leadership Development Institutes (LDI) at Georgia Southern University.

The successful implementation of our strategic plan and the achievement of our institutional goals, aligned with USG Strategic Priorities, are only accomplished if each and every faculty and staff member is actively engaged. As a result, our vision statement will only be achieved if we invest in our people – their growth and development – with the singular goal of impacting our students.

The goals and outcomes of LDIs are to train our academic and non-academic leaders to integrate a culture of strategic planning; goal setting and monitoring; innovation and adaptation; comprehensive assessment of outcomes; an environment of continuous improvement; and self, peer, and leadership assessment into their departments and units. Continuing our journey of evidence-based leadership principles and training to foster a culture of high performance and accountability, we offer LDIs for faculty and staff at various levels of leadership.

For Executive and Institutional Leaders

This is a year-round professional development opportunity for vice presidents, assistant and associate vice presidents, deans, shared governance leaders, and a select group of faculty and staff. These executive and institutional leaders meet quarterly for a half-day session to discuss campus plans, engage in strategic discussions, and learn from external leaders in higher education and industry.

For Departmental Leaders

This is an academic-year development series, co-led by our partners at Studer Education, for directors and department chairs. Our departmental leaders are selected by their vice presidents and meet three times during the academic year. In their sessions, departmental leaders learn about leadership principles, change management, and institutional priorities.

“We will be dedicated to growing ourselves to grow others–investing in our people…to have the greatest impact on our students and the communities we serve.”

– President Kyle Marrero, Strategic Plan 2025

Leadership Development Institute for Emerging Leaders

Are you an employee at Georgia Southern University looking to enhance your leadership skills and advance to higher-level administrative roles? The Leadership Development Institute for Emerging Leaders is designed for ambitious professionals who are ready to take the next step in their careers and prepare for roles at the Director or Department Chair level.

Georgia Southern Emerging Leaders Program Strengthens Leadership Pipeline

Georgia Southern University recently concluded the Spring 2026 cohort of the Leadership Development Institute (LDI) for Emerging Leaders. 28 faculty and staff members participated in the semester-long, cohort-based program to build leadership capability while emphasizing performance excellence.

Read the Full Story

Large group of diverse adults standing on wooden steps outdoors for a group photo in a park setting. (About 25 people, smiling.)

Who Should Apply?

The Leadership Development Institute for Emerging Leaders is ideal for employees who have demonstrated leadership potential but are not yet at the Director or Department Chair level. We encourage employees from across all divisions of the university to apply. The program will accept up to three (3) employees per division, selected for their potential and commitment to growth.

Program Structure

This cohort-based program will run during the Spring and will consist of:

Five (5) in-person sessions focused on leadership development
- January 29, 2027
- February 12, 2027
- February 26, 2027
- March 26, 2027
- April 23, 2027
Shadowing experiences with campus leaders
One-on-one coaching sessions
Independent learning and reflection activities

Time Commitment

Participants will dedicate approximately 40 hours over the course of the semester.

Eligibility Requirements

Demonstrated potential for administrative leadership at Georgia Southern University
A minimum of two years of service at Georgia Southern
A positive annual review during the most recent review period

How to Apply: Nominations can be submitted by a supervisor, colleague, or self-nomination. All participants must have their supervisor’s approval to participate in the program. Once nominations are collected, Executive Leadership will select the representatives from each division. Nominations are due by November 30, 2026 at 11:59 p.m.

Nomination Form

If you have any questions, please reach out to the Office of Institutional Engagement at oie@georgiasouthern.edu.

Contact Info