The Leadership and Administrative Skills Committee and Educational Foundation are excited to present this leadership development opportunity. The goal of this program is to prepare NACAA members for national leadership in the organization, in addition to helping with their own county and state leadership goals. It aims to develop compassionate leaders who can manage diverse groups of people and create a pool of well-rounded candidates for future NACAA leadership.
Program details: This program will be offered monthly online with an in-person kick-off at the 2025 AM/PIC. The Academy will culminate in a final project where small teams of participants will group up to develop a presentation on a leadership development topic that has not been covered during the program. At the 2026 AM/PIC, teams will deliver these talks during the Leadership & Administrative Skills presentation session.
Why Participate?
- Cutting edge leadership topics!
- Collaborate with colleagues across the nation!
- Get a published abstract and national presentation at AM/PIC 2025!
- Get your StrenghtsFinder assessment ($60 value)
Past participant experiences:
"This academy allows us as agents and specialists to broaden our horizons beyond our individual state lines. The perspectives, stories, and experiences of your cohort and the speakers truly are eye-opening. You will take a piece of each speaker and member of your cohort with you when the program is all said and done, and that might be the most valuable piece of the whole program!" - Blake Carter, UGA Extension
Cost: $150, due after acceptance
Application: go.osu.edu/nacaaleadershipacademy
Deadline: June 1, acceptance will be determined by June 10.
A supervisor letter of support is required during the registration process.
Priority will be given to NACAA members and those who plan to attend the AM/PICs in 2025 and 2026.
Leadership and Administrative Skills Committee:
Chair/NC Region: Amanda Douridas, Douridas.9@osu.edu
NE Region: Laura Beth Kenny, lbk8@psu.edu
NC Region: Carol Waters, cwaters3@unl.edu
Southern Region: Dalton Dockery, dalton_dockery@ncsu.edu
West Region: Donna Hoffman, dhoffman@natronacounty-wy.gov
Program Schedule
Monthly meetings will occur on the 2nd Thursday of each month from 11a.m. – 1p.m. EST (unless otherwise noted)
Session 1 at AM/PIC 2025- June 29, 1:30-3:00:
Sept 11: Strength Finders (11 a.m. - 3 p.m.)
Oct 9: Strength Finders Continued (11 a.m. - 3 p.m.)
Nov 13: NACAA Structure and Opportunities
Dec: Break
The following topics are tentative as we continue to fill speaker spots and get feedback from the current cohort.
Jan 8: Compassion and Empathy
Feb 12: Work life / organization / schedule management
Job stress, time management and balancing work and family are common struggles in the life of an Extension professional. According to recent research on Extension professionals’ stress, those who reported greater use of planning tended to have lower stress scores. Learn more about a purpose-driven approach to managing priorities. This presentation will offer insight into aligning personal values with work and life goals. We will explore tools to focus your time and resources towards projects and tasks that help you become more energized, focused and engaged in the moments that matter most, whether at work or at home.
Mar 12: Peer to Peer Learning
Apr 9: Thriving in a Multi-generational Organization
May 14: Communication and Conflict Resolution
Jun 11: Project Presentation Practice and Feedback
Jul: AM/PIC Final Presentations