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Office for Faculty Excellence

Faculty LEAD

Are you a faculty member who:

  • Is interested in moving into a leadership role?
  • Has recently accepted a leadership role?
  • Is an experienced faculty leader wanting to hone your skills?

The Faculty LEAD (Leadership Education and Development) program may be right for you. This certificate is offered at no cost, but participation is capped at 25 faculty members.

The 2026-27 Faculty LEAD application is now open. Please see the schedule below and apply here.

The Faculty LEAD Program, sponsored by NC State’s Learning and Organizational Development and Office for Faculty Excellence is intended for faculty members who want to become better leaders. This year-long, cohort-based program will be held in-person. Faculty participants will attend seven sessions, leading to a Faculty LEAD certificate.

Apply Now

2026-27 Faculty LEAD Schedule

  • Friday, October 9: Leading with Emotional Intelligence, 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m., E. Carroll Joyner Visitor Center, Multipurpose Room, 1210 Varsity Dr.
  • Facilitated by Dr. Kevin Rice, Learning & Organizational Development. Leading with Emotional Intelligence provides an in-depth exploration of Emotional Intelligence (EI) and Emotional Quotient (EQ). Utilizing the Emotional Quotient Inventory-2, leaders gain self-awareness of their effectiveness in interactions with others.
  • Friday, November 6:  Keys to Communicating Effectively, 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m., E. Carroll Joyner Visitor Center, Multipurpose Room, 1210 Varsity Dr.
    • Facilitated by Dr. Rebecca Dunning, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. DISC is a personal self-assessment tool widely used by organizations to help members gain self-awareness and improve interpersonal communications. In this interactive workshop participants learn how to identify the communication “styles” of others and strategies to manage their own styles to become better communicators.
  • Friday, December 4: Managing Difficult Conversations, 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m., E. Carroll Joyner Visitor Center, Multipurpose Room, 1210 Varsity Dr.
    • Facilitated by Dr. Kevin Rice, Learning & Organizational Development. This course equips participants with practical tools for navigating difficult conversations with clarity and confidence. Using best practices, we’ll explore strategies to address topics, apply effective approaches, and achieve productive outcomes.
  • Friday, January 22: Effective Leadership in Academia, 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m., E. Carroll Joyner Visitor Center, Multipurpose Room, 1210 Varsity Dr.
    • Facilitated by Dr. Melvin (Jai) Jackson, Office of Outreach and Engagement. This session will equip academic leaders with practical knowledge, skills, and strategies to create supportive, high-performing environments within educational institutions. The workshop will explore the vital role leaders play in shaping culture, policies, and practices to ensure all members of the academic community are able to contribute, succeed, and reach their full potential.
  • Friday, February 12: Leading Others to Success, 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m., E. Carroll Joyner Visitor Center, Multipurpose Room, 1210 Varsity Dr.
    • Facilitated by Learning and Organizational Development Team. Learn practical strategies to inspire, guide, and empower your team to achieve shared goals. Through interactive scenarios, you’ll practice communication, delegation, and problem-solving to build trust, boost collaboration, and lead with confidence.
  • Friday, March 2: Leadership Dialogue with NC State Leaders, 9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m., E. Carroll Joyner Visitor Center, Multipurpose Room, 1210 Varsity Dr.
    • Facilitated by Kim Grainger, Senior Vice Provost for Faculty Excellence; Maggie Merry, College of Agriculture and Life Sciences; Mike Walker, Assistant Dean for Finance and Business Management- College of Engineering. Connect with NC State leaders to gain valuable perspectives on navigating the university’s landscape. Through their experiences, you’ll learn practical leadership lessons, explore strategies for career growth, and gain a deeper understanding of how academic leaders drive success across the institution.
  • Friday, April 16: Program Close and Celebration Lunch, 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m., James B. Hunt, Jr. Library, Room 4101
    • Facilitated by Office for Faculty Excellence and Learning and Organizational Development. Faculty participants will share their leadership perspectives by reflecting on key lessons gained through Faculty LEAD. They will discuss how these insights have shaped their approach and outline how they plan to apply their new skills to elevate their leadership impact moving forward.