Empowering Women Leaders in Higher Education
AWHE IMPACT: Inspiring Leaders to Motivate, Perform, Advance, Cultivate, and Transform
The Arizona Women in Higher Education (AWHE) Leadership Institute is designed to assist the mission of Empowering women leaders in higher education to foster confidence, resilience, and impactful leadership styles. Creating an environment where women in academia thrive as leaders and trailblazers, by providing professional development for women in faculty or staff roles who are entry-level or mid-level higher education professionals aspiring to enter leadership in the future.
The duration of the program is 6 months and the meetings will take place virtually on the 1st and 3rd Tuesday of the month from 12:00 – 1:00 PM Fall months September 1 – November 17th | Spring Months January – February and April – sessions will not be held in March due to Spring Break . A virtual program orientation will take place on Tuesday, August 6th, from 5:30-7:30PM.
The cost to participate is $499.00 for the 6-month program and includes the registration fee for the AWHE26 Annual Conference (does not include the cost of hotel or travel).
Program Timeline
- Duration: September – November & January – February and April (6 months)
- Virtual Program Orientation: August 6, 2026, 5:30 – 7:30 PM
- Sessions: 1st & 3rd Tuesday of each month, beginning September 1, 2026, 12:00 – 1:00 PM
- Format: Virtual
Program Eligibility
- AWHE Members
- Women in faculty or staff roles in higher education
- Early to mid-career professionals in higher education
Cost
- Program Fee: Program fee: $499 (includes registration for the AWHE Annual Conference. Travel and lodging are not included; participants are kindly expected to cover these costs and plan to attend the conference.)
- Supervisor Endorsement Required: Applicants must have supervisor approval to apply and commit to covering program and conference costs
- Once accepted into the program, payment is due to secure your spot. You’ll receive payment details along with your acceptance notification.
Application Process
- As part of the application process, each application will require endorsement from your supervisor to apply for the program and acknowledge that they will approve and cover the cost of the program and conference attendance. The $499 fee is due when selected applicants accept the invitation to participate into the program.
- AWHE will request feedback from a reference. You will be asked to give permission for AWHE to contact your reference when you apply. After we receive your completed application, we will reach out to your reference and ask them to complete a brief feedback form about your potential participation in the AWHE Leadership Institute. Only the AWHE Professional Development Committee will review this feedback. You will not have access to your reference’s responses, so we encourage you to discuss this request with them in advance.
Application Timeline
April 17, 2026 – Application Open
May 11, 2026 – Application Deadline
May 18, 2026 – Supervisor Endorsement Due
Program Curriculum
Phase 1: Higher Education Landscape & Big-Picture Considerations (Months 1-3)
- The Higher Education Landscape – Context & Trends
- Navigating Leadership in Higher Education
- Power, Influence, and Decision-Making in Higher Education
Phase 2: Self-Assessment, Professional Goals, and Leadership Growth (Months 4-6)
- Self-Assessment & Professional Identity
- Career Advancement Strategies
- Leadership Legacy & Actionable Plan