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HERS Leadership Institute
Benefits of Attending
Develop practical leadership skills and broader institutional awareness
Increase your campus visibility and unleash your voice to guide change
Join a diverse network of 6,000+ HLI alums working in higher ed nationwide
Choose a format that best fits your busy life and preferred learning style
2026 Weekend HERS Leadership Institute (WHLI)
2026 Weekend HERS Leadership Institute (WHLI)
Weekend 1: Arrive Sep 30th and depart on Oct 4th
Weekend 2: Arrive Dec 2nd and depart on Dec 6th*
*A virtual intercession will be offered in January, dates TBD
Weekend 3: Arrive Feb 3rd and depart on Feb 7th
Participants should plan to arrive on Wednesday and depart on Sunday each weekend. The program will run all day Thursday-Saturday.
University of Massachusetts, Amherst (UMass Amherst)
Charles River Campus (formerly Mt. Ida Campus)
Newton, MA
Early-Decision Program Fee:¹ $9,000
Regular-Decision Program Fee:¹ $9,500
Partial Board Fee:¹ $700
Early-Decision Due May 1, 2026**
Regular-Decision Due June 12, 2026**
View application, financial support and payment timeline.
** All applicants are encouraged to apply early, as applications are reviewed on a rolling basis.
2027 Summer HERS Leadership Institute (HLI)
2027 Summer HERS Leadership Institute (HLI)
Financial support available
Tuesday, July 13 - Thursday, July 22, 2027
Colorado School of Mines,
Golden, CO
Program Fee:¹ $9,500
Housing and Partial Board Fee:¹ $1,200
Early-Decision due November 16, 2026
Regular-Decision due February 22, 2027
View application, financial support and payment timeline.
If you will require financial support to participate in the HERS Leadership Institute, we encourage you to apply by the early-decision deadline.
Click to learn more about our financial support opportunities.
Overview of the HERS Leadership Institute
The HLI Curriculum
At the HERS Leadership Institute, you will learn more about yourself and your institution, assess your network and connections, and develop a richer appreciation for your unique leadership capabilities. Our curriculum focuses on Understanding Self, Working with Others, Navigating Systems, and Leading Change and Transformation, which we deliver through the following four approaches:
Self-Knowledge
Participants are first asked to share their leadership vision and what they hope to contribute to their institution. They then develop the leadership skills necessary to actualize their vision. Through this process, each participant develops a richer appreciation for their unique leadership capabilities and the courage to act.
Institutional Awareness
As both practitioners and scholars, our facilitators provide practical, evidence-based approaches to operating within an institutional context. The cohort is presented with real-life case studies to dissect and discuss, and participants are invited to share their knowledge or experiences to increase the diversity of thought.
Networking
As a non-competitive space, participants are encouraged to champion the growth of all cohort members, building personal and professional bonds that will last a lifetime. These cohorts collectively form the backbone of the HERS Network, an invaluable resource of 6,000+ alums who are eager to support their peers.
Practical Application
Throughout the Leadership Institute, participants apply their lessons to a self-designed Leadership Project, which they can then pursue on campus in their current role. These personal case studies in organizational change demonstrate the readiness of alums to lead. Click here for a detailed overview of the leadership project.
The curriculum for all three HERS Leadership Institutes is functionally identical, having evolved since 1970 to address the major challenges and opportunities women and gender-diverse leaders face in higher education today. Choose the HLI option that works best for you based on time and location and rest assured that you and your cohort will receive the same transformative experience as our other cohorts.
HLI Facilitators: Subject-Matter Experts
One of the distinguishing features of the HERS Leadership Institute are the facilitators and panelists — practitioners and scholars each — who are hand-picked based on their breadth of experience and scholarly work. These proven leaders, from chief executive officers to other key campus leaders, are excited to share their research, strategies, and techniques, including real-life situations and case studies for participants to dissect and discuss.
Areas of expertise include but are not limited to the following topics:
- Leadership Voice and Identity
- Navigating Culture Change
- Budget and Fiscal Principles
- Navigating Legal Issues
- Negotiation
- Data-Driven Decision-Making
- Humanizing Leadership
Is This Program for You?
The HERS Leadership Institute is designed for faculty and staff who generally hold mid-to-senior level positions in higher education and have a desire to emerge as more dynamic leaders for themselves and their institutions. Our intention is to replicate a campus environment in which faculty, staff, and administrators all work together, allowing participants to gain insight into each other’s role-specific perspectives and knowledge.
The HERS Leadership Institute is an inclusive program, so though our focus remains on women and gender diverse leaders, the program is open to all, regardless of gender identity. Participants will represent a range of racial and ethnic groups, gender identities, nationalities, veteran and disability statuses, religious affiliations, ages, and years of experience in higher education, thereby broadening the perspectives and insights in each session.
Why Apply and Why Now?
During this critical moment for higher education, we recognize the pivotal impact that institutional leaders can make. Higher education needs bold leaders like you: committed to making a difference and creating more equitable learning opportunities for all. Leverage newfound skills and confidence to help your institution, peers, and students navigate new challenges and opportunities. Submit your application for the HERS Leadership Institute today and become one of the changemakers needed to usher higher education into the future.
HLI Application Process
Although the deadlines and application links are different for the Weekend HLI and Summer HLI programs, they are the same application process. Applications for the HERS Leadership Institute will be reviewed on an ongoing basis. Interested applicants are encouraged to submit their application and secure their letter of recommendation early in the process for best consideration. Your application will not be considered until we receive both your completed application and letters of recommendation, which are due at the same time. Once accepted, you may request an application for financial support. Only accepted applicants are eligible to apply for financial support.
We strongly encourage applicants whose participation will depend on financial support to complete the HLI application by the early-decision deadline. In addition to the $500 program fee discount, HLI applicants accepted during the early-decision process receive priority consideration for all forms of financial support. Fellowship and scholarship awards may not be available for prospective HLI participants who submitted their HLI application materials after the early-decision deadline. Click here for details and eligibility criteria for HLI financial support opportunities.
Need more info?
HERS does not have its next HLI Info Session scheduled at this time.
Please request more info to be notified when registration for this virtual webinar opens.
HERS Leadership Institute Options
2026 Weekend HERS Leadership Institute (WHLI)
2026 Weekend HERS Leadership Institute (WHLI)
Dates
Weekend 1: Arrive Sep 30th and depart on Oct 4thWeekend 2: Arrive Dec 2nd and depart on Dec 6th*
*A virtual intercession will be offered in January, dates TBD
Weekend 3: Arrive Feb 3rd and depart on Feb 7th
Participants should plan to arrive on Wednesday and depart on Sunday each weekend. The program will run all day Thursday-Saturday.
Location
UMass AmherstCharles River Campus (formerly Mt. Ida Campus)
Newton, MA (20 mins outside of Boston)
Fees
Early-Decision Program Fee:¹ $9,000Regular-Decision Regular Program Fee:¹ $9,500
Partial Board Fee:¹ $700*
*Includes 9 breakfasts, 9 lunches, and 3 dinners. All participants will be asked to book and pay for their own rooms at our selected hotel (for discounted group rate).
Financial support available for eligible applicants (see below).
Please review our Cancellation, Refund, and Deferral Policy here.
Housing and Schedule
The Charles River Campus (formerly Mount Ida Campus) of the University of Massachusetts, Amherst (UMass Amherst) is located 20 minutes outside of Boston in the beautiful city of Newton, MA (also known as “the Garden City”). Founded as the Mount Ida School for Girls in 1899, the campus has evolved significantly since then, though it remains rich in history.Because the Weekend HLI takes place during the academic year, participants will stay at our selected hotel, where we have secured a favorable group rate. Sharing a hotel allows us more opportunities to network, discuss, and build lifelong relationships.
After a shared breakfast, programming begins every day at 8:30 am and runs through 5:00 pm, with evenings devoted to networking with the cohort and HERS alums on-site. For this reason, all participants must arrive on Wednesday before each weekend session and depart on Sunday. Check-in begins at 3:00 pm on Wednesday; check-out ends at 11:00 am on Sunday.
Financial Aid Opportunities
HERS is committed to ensuring that institutional financial constraints do not hinder an applicant’s opportunity for growth. If you require financial support to participate in the Weekend HERS Leadership Institute (HLI), we encourage you to apply by the early-decision deadline. Learn more about our financial support opportunities here.- HERS Scholarships provide financial assistance to applicants from institutions and practice areas that have been underrepresented at the HLI.
- HERS-Mellon Leader Fellowship supports the leadership development of participants from humanities disciplines.
Application and Payment Deadlines
Early Decision
- Applications due May 1, 2026 (rolling basis)
- Acceptance notifications by May 8, 2026
- Financial support applications due May 15, 2026
- Financial support award notifications by May 22, 2026
- Payment due May 29, 2026
Regular Decision
- Applications due June 12, 2026 (rolling basis)
- Acceptance notifications by June 19, 2026
- Financial support applications due June 26, 2026
- Financial support award notifications by July 2, 2026
- Payment due July 10, 2026
2027 Summer HERS Leadership Institute (HLI)
2027 Summer HERS Leadership Institute (HLI)
Dates
Tuesday, July 13 — Thursday, July 22, 2027Location
Colorado School of Mines,Golden, Colorado
Fees
Program Fee:¹ $9,500Housing and Partial Board Fee:¹ $1,200*
*Includes 9 nights of lodging, 6 breakfasts, 7 lunches, and 2 dinners.
Financial support available for eligible applicants (see below).
Please review our Cancellation, Refund, and Deferral Policy here.
Housing and Schedule
The Colorado School of Mines is located 20 minutes outside of Denver in the picturesque city of Golden, CO, which sits at the foot of the Rocky Mountains. Founded in 1874, the Colorado School of Mines has long been one of the preeminent STEM institutions in the US.Our summer programs take place at the campus residence halls. This has been the case since the HLI was established in 1976 on the campus of Bryn Mawr College. Similar to the experiences of first-year students, residence halls serve as transformative spaces where relationships are built, growth is nurtured, and community is forged in a short period. We strongly believe the residence hall setting is critical to the success of our summer HLIs. All participants will have a room of their own for privacy.
After a shared breakfast, programming begins every day at 8:30 am and runs through 5:00 pm, with evenings devoted to networking with the cohort and HERS alums on-site. Please plan to check in between 12:00 and 2:00 pm on the first day. We will kick off the program with a welcome reception the same evening. Programming ends with a graduation reception, dinner and celebration on the penultimate day. Please check out of your room by 10:00 am on the final day.
Financial Aid Opportunities
HERS is committed to ensuring that institutional financial constraints do not hinder an applicant’s opportunity for growth. If you require financial support to participate in the Summer HERS Leadership Institute (HLI), we encourage you to apply as early as possible, scholarships are highly competitive. Learn more about our financial support opportunities here.- HERS Scholarships provide financial assistance to applicants from institutions and practice areas that have been underrepresented at the HLI.
- HERS-Mellon Leader Fellowship supports the leadership development of participants from humanities disciplines.
- HERS-Luce STEM Leader Fellowship supports the leadership development of participants in STEM fields.
Application and Payment Deadlines
Early Decision
- Applications due November 16, 2026
- Acceptance notifications will be made on a rolling basis, no later than November 25, 2026
- Financial support applications due November 30, 2026
- Financial support award notifications will be made on a rolling basis*, no later than December 16, 2026
- Payment due January 14, 2027
Regular Decision
- Applications due February 22, 2027
- Acceptance notifications will be made on a rolling basis, no later than March 1, 2027
- Financial support applications due March 8, 2027
- Financial support award notifications will be made on a rolling basis*, no later than March 12, 2027
- Payment due April 9, 2027
Do you have more questions about an upcoming HERS Leadership Institute?
Please check out our program-specific questions below or our Frequently Asked Questions page (which includes common HLI questions, application questions, logistical questions) before reaching out, or click here to Request More Info.
¹ HERS is a nonprofit organization. The Program Fee helps defray our venue and program facilitator expenses, as well as various administrative costs. At the same time, the Room and Board Fee covers lodging and meals for program participants. Please review our GuideStar profile for further information about our financials and nonprofit status.