The Chronicle’s Strategic-Leadership Program for Deans
Executive-Level Skills for Leading Through Tubulence | September 2025
The Chronicle’s Strategic-Leadership Program for Deans
With a stake in daily operations, the strategic priorities of the college, and the priorities of the institution more broadly, the dean’s role in the best of times is a balancing act. In today’s turbulent higher-ed landscape, even the most experienced deans can be thrown off-kilter. The Chronicle is partnering with seasoned academic leaders at Dever Justice LLC and leading research experts at Ithaka S+R to host a virtual professional development program that will help deans maintain their balance amidst uncertainty and continue to drive successful initiatives for their schools and institutions.
This two-week program will provide participants the opportunity to workshop their executive goals and priorities, gain access to critical insights on the core functional components of the dean’s role, and create a network with academic leaders from across the country to continue advancing their skills. By creating meaningful spaces for networking and convening both institutional expertise and external perspective, this leadership series will provide participants a unique opportunity to broaden their understanding of their role and create innovative strategies for today’s challenges.
For questions about the program, please reach out to workshops@chronicle.com.
Program Leaders
Agenda
Program Overview
This program has been designed to provide deans with space to develop goals and align strategic priorities to withstand uncertainty, up-skill on key functional areas of the role, learn from experts with both direct institutional and broader external perspectives, and network with peers to expand their outlook on deanship. Our core program includes a small-group workshop, a set of accelerator sessions, and dedicated networking opportunities.
Pricing:
We offer group rates on the core program for institutions sending 5 or more deans. Please reach out to workshops@chronicle.com for information on our specialized rate.
- Strategic Foundations Workshop: This 1-hour small-group workshop will allow deans to assess and align their existing strategic priorities to meet the moment.
- Accelerators: These three 90-minute sessions will provide key insights on navigating the dean’s leadership role, essential fundraising skills, and crisis management. Each session includes a 60-minute webinar on the topic with experts followed by a 30-minute facilitated group discussion.
- Facilitated Networking: • This 1-hour networking opportunity held at the conclusion of the program will allow participants to broaden their horizons and forge strategic connections with other participants through program reflections and small-group discussion.
- (Optional) Executive Coaching: For those who register for the coaching-inclusive package, they will receive an additional 1-hour individualized coaching session from Dever Justice LLC.
Pricing:
- Individual registration to the core program: $1,495
- Individual registration to the core program, plus individual coaching: $2,995
We offer group rates on the core program for institutions sending 5 or more deans. Please reach out to workshops@chronicle.com for information on our specialized rate.
Seminar
Accelerator 1 | The Dean’s World
01:00 PM, September 09, 2025
The dean wears several hats: a first-among-equals with the faculty, an executive voice and representative for their school or college, a peer to senior administrators, and facilitator of their advisory board or council. Each of these dynamics comes with its own set of norms, working relationships, challenges, and opportunities.
In this accelerator session, Carolyn Dever and George Justice will explore the key functions and nuances of the dean’s world to help participants better understand and navigate their schools, faculty, institutional and external partners, and strategic initiatives more effectively. We’ll explore:
This hour-long seminar will be immediately followed by 30-minute discussion groups, facilitated by Chronicle staff and program leaders.
In this accelerator session, Carolyn Dever and George Justice will explore the key functions and nuances of the dean’s world to help participants better understand and navigate their schools, faculty, institutional and external partners, and strategic initiatives more effectively. We’ll explore:
- The keys to executing your responsibilities as a dean—in the many different facets of the role
- Managing in both directions and collaborating with your department chairs and provost
- Keeping your finger on the pulse of day-to-day operations while still prioritizing and executing strategic goals
- The pronounced step into leadership and how the dean’s role fits into your professional journey
This hour-long seminar will be immediately followed by 30-minute discussion groups, facilitated by Chronicle staff and program leaders.
Workshop
Strategic Foundations Workshop
Multiple time and date options*
These one-hour small-group sessions will allow deans the opportunity to explore and segment their priorities and challenges for the academic year. By cultivating connections with a group of peers and workshopping their goals, participants will walk away with fresh perspectives to bring back to their campuses.
To accommodate variable schedules, we’re offering multiple sessions to pick from:
To accommodate variable schedules, we’re offering multiple sessions to pick from:
- Wednesday, September 10 | 9 - 10 a.m. ET
- Wednesday, September 10 | 11 a.m. - 12 p.m. ET
- Wednesday, September 10 | 1 - 2 p.m. ET
- Wednesday, September 10 | 3 - 4 p.m. ET
- Thursday, September 11 | 9 - 10 a.m. ET
- Thursday, September 11 | 11 a.m. - 12 p.m. ET
- Thursday, September 11 | 1 - 2 p.m. ET
- Thursday, September 11 | 3 - 4 p.m. ET
Seminar
Accelerator 2 | Crisis Management
01:00 PM, September 15, 2025
Over the past few years, higher ed has faced an onslaught of crises—which haven’t shown any signs of slowing down. As pressure increases on all sides, the dean is tasked with leading their school and supporting their institution through a sea of unprecedented times and turmoil.
How can deans see beyond the everyday fires, and beyond even the context of their own institutions, to better prepare for the incoming storms? This accelerator will bring together both institutional crisis management experts with external consultancy perspectives to help deans broaden their understanding of mitigating crisis and gain critical tools and strategies to keep their schools afloat.
This hour-long seminar will be immediately followed by 30-minute discussion groups, facilitated by Chronicle staff and program leaders.
How can deans see beyond the everyday fires, and beyond even the context of their own institutions, to better prepare for the incoming storms? This accelerator will bring together both institutional crisis management experts with external consultancy perspectives to help deans broaden their understanding of mitigating crisis and gain critical tools and strategies to keep their schools afloat.
This hour-long seminar will be immediately followed by 30-minute discussion groups, facilitated by Chronicle staff and program leaders.
Seminar
Accelerator 3 | Fundraising
01:00 PM, September 16, 2025
Fundraising is one of the most important roles within the institution—and the dean’s part in that effort is essential to ensuring its success. Deans play a key internal role working with faculty and advancement offices to understand the financial needs of their school and the institution, set priorities, and lead important development initiatives. Deans play an equally essential role externally with individual donors, foundations, and industry leaders to advocate for the needs of the institution.
The importance of this role is on stark display in today’s funding landscape. With federal funds in limbo and under fire, and purse strings tightening for other typical funding sources, fundraising competition is on the rise. It’s more important now than ever to not only create an enticing value proposition, but to understand the fundraising landscape and tailor your proposition to meet the moment.
This accelerator will feature both institutional perspectives and outside experts to advance participants’ fundraising skills. We’ll explore:
The importance of this role is on stark display in today’s funding landscape. With federal funds in limbo and under fire, and purse strings tightening for other typical funding sources, fundraising competition is on the rise. It’s more important now than ever to not only create an enticing value proposition, but to understand the fundraising landscape and tailor your proposition to meet the moment.
This accelerator will feature both institutional perspectives and outside experts to advance participants’ fundraising skills. We’ll explore:
- Managing your school’s personnel and priorities with broader institutional priorities
- How to balance faculty fundraising interests with leadership expectations
- Communicating your value proposition and managing relationships with external donors
- Navigating an increasingly competitive and cash-strapped landscape
- How to use volunteer leadership structures efficiently
Workshop
Closing Networking Workshop
Multiple time and date options*
Forging Connection & Charting Your Path Forward
This networking space will provide participants the opportunity to create a cohort of peers to expand their learning into the future. In creating these strategic alliances with other deans across the country, participants will be able to continue broadening their perspectives and gaining invaluable feedback on their plans from others in similar situations.
To accommodate your variable schedules, we’re offering multiple sessions to pick from:
- Wednesday, September 17 | 9 - 10 a.m. ET
- Thursday, September 18 | 11 a.m. - 12 p.m. ET
- Thursday, September 18 | 2 - 3 p.m. ET
Executive Coaching
Coaching scheduled separately upon purchase*
Limited-Access Coaching Opportunity
One of the most powerful ways to advance your leadership is dedicated 1:1 coaching.
As part of our Strategic-Leadership Program for Deans, we’re offering a unique opportunity to pursue further executive coaching with Dever Justice LLC beyond the program. By selecting to add the “Executive Coaching” option to their registration, The Chronicle will connect you with Dever Justice LLC to match you with a coach and select a coaching session time that works for you.