Leading from the Middle
Leading from the Middle (LFM) is a leadership development program designed for mid-level leaders in higher education.¹ The LFM series offers a rich blend of interactive workshops, expert-led discussions, and practical sessions aimed at empowering participants to navigate the unique challenges of leadership in the “middle” of institutional hierarchies.
Empowering mid-level leaders in higher education to navigate challenges, uphold values, and enhance their overall leadership effectiveness
Leading From the Middle, Fall 2026
Location:
- Virtual
Dates & Times:
- October 19, 2026 - November 16, 2026
- Mondays from 3:00-5:00 PM ET
Session 2 (October 26): Managing Conflict: Anticipatory, Real-Time, and Post-Conflict Strategies with Dawn Osborne-Adams
Session 3 (November 2): Motivation and Communication: Fostering Job Satisfaction and Effectively Managing Performance with Kathy Rogers
Session 4 (November 9): Clarity and Leadership: Understanding Common Legal, Ethical, and Compliance Issues in Higher Ed with Kathy Rogers
Session 5 (November 16): Leadership Insights, Strategies, and Action Plans (Panel)
Detailed session information coming soon.
Program fee:¹
- 9$1,800*
HERS will be in touch with the full cohort shortly after the payment deadline.
¹ HERS is a nonprofit organization. The Program Fee helps defray our technology and program facilitator expenses, as well as various administrative costs. Please review our GuideStar profile for further information about our financials and nonprofit status.
Please consult our virtual workshop and virtual program series cancellation and refund policy.
DEADLINES:
- Registration Deadline: Monday, October 12, 2026
- Payment Deadline: Friday, October 16, 2026
Through this program, attendees will gain valuable insights into maintaining their core values while adapting to new responsibilities, fostering strong relationships, addressing conflict, managing performance, and understanding important legal and ethical obligations. Participants will have the opportunity to engage with seasoned leaders and peers to discuss actionable strategies that enhance their leadership effectiveness within the dynamic environment of higher education.
¹ This program is designed for mid-level faculty administrators and staff managers/directors. A more detailed description of these kinds of roles is provided below.
It was very engaging and I learned ALOT! It came at a perfect time and I was able to apply what I learned the next day.
[Sessions were] very organized, targeted, optimistic, evidence-based.
The presenter was engaging, the session was participatory. I felt like we were really building community among the participants. The information shared today was truly pure gold!
Program Info
Academic administrators rarely receive formal training in leadership, supervision, or performance management. This five-part interactive program provides higher ed professionals (both faculty and staff) who have recently assumed administrative or managerial roles the tools and skills necessary to lead with confidence.
Participants will engage with peers and facilitators as they gain knowledge and develop skills for managing direct and indirect reports, motivating and managing performance, navigating conflict and interpersonal dynamics, and understanding important ethical and legal considerations for leading effectively from the organizational “middle.” Importantly, the program explores the impact of intersectionality, including the nuances of gender and race, on perceptions of leadership effectiveness.
What participants learn
Develop a strong sense of leadership identity.
Understand and apply strategies for effective conflict management.
Foster a culture of motivation, resilience, and high performance.
Navigate legal, ethical, and compliance challenges with confidence.
Gain practical insights and strategies from seasoned leaders to enhance leadership effectiveness.
Who should attend
Leaders who are new to administrative roles with supervisory or management responsibilities in higher education. Ideal participants are seeking to build key skills as effective leaders and managers, and gain guidance and clarity on leading with influence and confidence.
This program is intended for directors, assistant/associate directors, department chairs, assistant/associate chairs, assistant/associate deans, assistant/associate VPs, or other faculty and staff leaders with supervisory responsibilities.
How leading from the middle supports our mission
Success in one’s first few administrative roles can set the stage for a long and successful career in higher education leadership. Those who feel unprepared or out-of-their-depth may not pursue senior leadership roles later in their career, which shrinks the pipeline of women and gender-diverse leaders overall. Early successes on the other hand equip leaders with the confidence to do more as well as stronger resumes or CVs for when they apply to senior-level positions. As these leaders advance their careers and bring equity to higher education, they can continue to use the skills and knowledge from this program to transform their institutions and the students they serve.
Please see our confidentiality and non-distribution policy for virtual programs and workshops. By registering for this program, you agree to abide by this policy.