President’s Leadership Institute

The delivery model will be cohort-based to encourage team building, trust development and networking within each group.  The curriculum is interactive, focusing on exploring trends and challenges within higher education, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and on our campus. The program is facilitated in monthly four-hour sessions (12 noon to 4:00 pm) throughout the academic year. It also includes an opening orientation session (late August), a closing graduation and reception (late May), as well as professional development activities throughout the year.

The President and his Cabinet support the program as a mechanism for identifying potential future university leaders. President Wubah attends program sessions and interacts extensively with participants.  Vice Presidents participate in sessions focused on their division.  Other content experts are invited to infuse the curriculum with a variety of voices from across higher education and the business and government landscape.

Program Nomination and Eligibility

The PLI cohort are usually 16 members (8 faculty and 8 staff members).  Nominations come from the divisional vice-presidents in early June with final selection by the President by the end of June.  Eligibility is determined by the following criteria:

• Full-time faculty or staff for at least one calendar year by time of nomination
• Bachelor’s degree or higher
• In good-standing with the university
• Favorable performance evaluations
• Willingness to commit to the 10 month program

The 2023-2024 PLI cohort:

The 2022-2023 PLI cohort:

The 2021-2022 PLI cohort:

The 2020-2021 PLI cohort:

The 2019-2020 PLI cohort:

 

 

The leadership institute utilizes a variety of learning experiences, including:

• Monthly discussions with President Wubah on current issues and leadership themes.
• Interactive presentations with university leaders to understand the internal operations of the university.
• Field excursions to learn from Millersville business and government partners and tour their facilities.
• Opportunities to interact with key stakeholders and hear how they influence the university (Trustees, Alumni, etc.).
• A series of experiential workshops with special attention to inclusion, conflict management, crisis communication, etc.
• Carefully selected readings to highlight themes of value-driven leadership, inclusive decision making and other emerging themes.
• Team projects to allow participants to dive deeper into an area of interest.

Team building and networking take place during the discussions, retreats and excursions. Cohort members join with the President and Cabinet for networking lunches, athletic games and volunteer projects. The President's Leadership Institute enables faculty and staff to forge a strong connection to the Ville, their co-workers, and the stakeholders we serve as an institution.

In addition to the formal curriculum, participants are encouraged to attend several university events to support their knowledge and insight into university life, including governance, affinity group interaction, and athletics, culture and arts.

• Alumni networking events (MU After Work)
• Art and Culture Events
• Sporting events
• Volunteer projects such as Day of Caring, SGA’s Big Event
• Council of Trustees public meeting

During the program, cohort members are encouraged to expand their knowledge of the university and the current issues and future directions of higher education – through dialogue, readings, videos, meetings, events, etc. – with the hope that this knowledge will support their professional growth and development as key members of the Millersville team.

In order to complete the program, cohort members must:

• Participate fully in the formal and informal curricula
• Submit all session and end-of-program surveys
• Prepare a final team presentation at the closing retreat