Program Overview

Program Overview

The Management Development Program (MDP) is a five-day program held on campus in Cambridge, Massachusetts, designed for early-career leaders in higher education. The program aims to provide participants with the critical skills and mindsets needed to navigate complex institutional environments.

Program Details

The MDP program covers various topics, including:

• Leadership effectiveness
• Negotiation tactics
• Fiscal decision-making
• Inclusion and belonging
• Ethics
• Strategic planning

A combination of case studies, small group discussions, interactive presentations, and immersive experiences will help participants learn how to incorporate broader strategic considerations into their management decisions.

Learning Goals

The program's learning goals include:

• Developing the capacity for individual and group effectiveness
• Learning frameworks, tools, and skills to manage negotiations effectively
• Navigating fiscal decision-making by becoming familiar with higher education financial structures and economic concepts
• Taking proactive steps to transform colleges and universities into truly inclusive institutions
• Exploring characteristics of effective and ethical leadership
• Gaining skills for planning, implementing, and evaluating a strategic direction for a department or unit
• Establishing connections and developing a lasting network with peers from around the world and throughout the United States

Faculty Chairs

The program is led by two faculty chairs:

• Eduardo Ramon Contreras Jr, Adjunct Faculty in Professional Education
• Liya Escalera, Lecturer on Education

Who Should Attend

The program is designed for early-career college and university administrators responsible for the strategic direction, administrative management, and local leadership of their respective departments and areas, including:

• Deans, including associate and assistant deans
• Department chairs
• Program directors
• Managing directors

Tuition

The tuition covers all instructional materials, a daily continental breakfast and lunch, and beverages and light refreshments during scheduled breaks. Travel, lodging expenses, and most dinners are not included in this fee.

Executive Certificate in Higher Education Leadership

This program counts toward the Executive Certificate in Higher Education Leadership. Complete this program and two additional qualifying programs within 36 months to earn a distinguished credential designed to strengthen leadership capacity and help meet the evolving challenges of higher education.

Related Programs

Other related programs include:

• Crisis Leadership in Higher Education
• Institute for Management and Leadership in Education
• LGBTQIA+ Leadership in Higher Education

Additional Resources

Additional resources are available, including:

• Early Childhood Programs
• K-12 Programs
• Higher Education Programs
• How to Apply
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