What is the ASU Leadership Institute?
Each year, the ASU Alumni Association accepts a cohort of up-and-coming and current leaders for a professional and personal leadership development program. This structured nine-month program takes an in-depth look at the university and its institutional objectives to demonstrate excellence, access and impact, and the importance of higher education.
During ASU Innovation Days, participants meet ASU renowned professors, practitioners and executive leaders and learn about how higher education, business and community can succeed together. The ASU Leadership Institute works to enlighten, inspire and transform leaders from diverse professions and communities.
The program is specially designed to help participants develop and understand critical leadership skills. The cohort will participate in a leadership assessment tool that will provide in-depth analysis and insights that identify key strengths to further develop and areas to enhance. Each ASU Innovation Day will feature a leadership panel or program showcasing top educators and experts in many fields, including business, consulting, nonprofit management, ethics, media and military service.
The institute aims to inspire leaders to innovate and strengthen their community. After completing the program, leaders will be equipped to serve on ASU boards, mentor students, create scholarships and serve as community ambassadors.
Questions about the ASU Leadership Institute? Contact Ellyse Crow, Director of Affinity Programs at 480-965-2464.
How to Apply
Application to the ASU Leadership Institute is open to all degreed ASU alumni the private, public and nonprofit who have demonstrated community involvement through participation in at least two organizations and who were involved as a student in organizations and clubs on campus or are currently involved with ASU. The application for the upcoming leadership class opens every January.
The written application is weighted equally as the candidate interview. It is important that candidates devote adequate time to the written application. Incomplete applications will not be reviewed. To complete the written application process, you must submit the online application and provide the following:
- Your resume.
- A personal statement of 300–500 words.
- One letter of recommendation from your current employer.
- A nonrefundable application fee of $50.
The program fee for the ASU Leadership Institute is $1,850 and is due by Aug. 31. Participants can avail of an early bird fee price of $1,600 if paid in full by Aug. 15. The program fee covers full participation in all ASU Innovation Days, all materials, and meals during the Institute.
A select number of candidates will be interviewed for approximately 30 minutes each by an ASU Leadership Institute selection panel. Applications will be scored by how well candidates demonstrate leadership competencies during the interview and the written application.
Program Format
The ASU Leadership Institute is a 9 month intensive program, with one full day in-person each month and five additional in-person ASU experiences. Class 7 will run from August 2024 to May 2025, beginning with an orientation, continuing with one full program day each month and concluding with a graduation ceremony.
Attendance is mandatory at orientation and graduation and is expected on all Innovation Days. One excused absence is allowed to meet graduation requirements. If you cannot commit to the schedule, please consider applying at a time when you can commit to the time requirements.
Experience up-close and personal tours of ASU’s newest spaces and communities, hear from top ASU leaders, and build connections with an exclusive cohort of ASU alumni leaders that will be a part of your network for years to come.
Each Innovation Day, an agenda is curated to meet the following four pillars:
- Leadership Development.
- ASU’s Impact.
- Networking Opportunities.
- Engagement.
| Class 7 Schedule | |
|---|---|
| Orientation (half day) | Wednesday, August 21, 2024 |
| Innovation Day 1 | Friday, September 13, 2024 |
| Innovation Day 2 | Friday, October 18, 2024 |
| Innovation Day 3 | Friday, November 15, 2024 |
| Innovation Day 4 | Friday, December 13, 2024 |
| Innovation Day 5 | Friday, January 24, 2025 |
| Innovation Day 6 | Friday, February 21, 2025 |
| Innovation Day 7 | Friday. March 21, 2025 |
| Innovation Day 8 | Friday, April 25, 2025 |
| Innovation Day 9 (+ Graduation) | Friday, May 16, 2025 |
FAQs
The ASU Leadership Institute immerses leaders in the culture and assets essential to ASU’s future and the impact of higher education on society. During this structured nine-month program, participants will meet renowned professors and practitioners at ASU as well as university executive leaders. ASU Leadership provides a transformative experience inspiring leaders to innovate and strengthen our community.
This website serves as a guide to provide information about the program, application and selection processes, and answers to frequently asked questions about the program.
The program is open to all degreed ASU alums who are interested in serving their community and ensuring the future of higher education. We’re looking for Sun Devils who will enjoy spending focused time at their alma mater and with the leaders of the country’s No. 1 in the U.S. for innovation nine years in a row (U.S. News & World Report, 2023), who will successfully complete the program, and who will stay involved with ASU upon completion of this program.
The application is currently open for Class 7 and will close on Tuesday, April 30, 2024. Please submit your application here.
Absolutely. All participants will be required to fulfill time and project requirements at their own expense in addition to the application and tuition fees.
The time commitment for the ASU Leadership Institute includes nine ASU Innovation Days (8am-5pm), the program orientation, graduation and 5 in-person engagement opportunities at ASU which can be selected by the participant. Attendance is mandatory for the orientation, ASU Innovation Day #1 and graduation (absolutely no exceptions). If you cannot commit to the full schedule, please consider applying at another time when it better suits your schedule.
The program fee is $1,850 and due Aug. 31. There is early bird fee is $1,600 if paid in full by Aug. 15. The program fee covers full participation in all ASU Innovation Days, all materials and meals during the institute.
The ASU Alumni Association will reimburse 50% of the program costs if the participant withdraws prior to the start of the program. Due to the nature of the program, reimbursements are not available after the start of the program, and both the participant and their employer will be liable for any unpaid fee balance.
Employers benefit from an employee’s improved leadership, teamwork and problem-solving skills. Through their employee’s involvement, employers gain access to a broad network of prestigious leadership contacts, extensive knowledge of higher education and its impact on society, and how the No. 1 university in innovation prepares the next generation of leaders. Through this nine-month program, participants will learn the value and strength of individual influence on effecting change.
Yes. All participants must have their employer’s permission to participate, and the participants must indicate the commitment on the application form.
Absolutely. In this case, please submit a letter of recommendation from another source such as a mentor, business partner, former professor, former colleague, etc.
After successful completion of the program, we want participants to stay involved in the ASU Alumni Association, become involved in the university by serving on a board or council, help create and/or raise funds for student scholarships, serve as ambassadors for ASU in the community, and help ensure the ongoing success of this program.
Class 6 participants
