Program Overview

Program Overview

The Harvard Graduate School of Education offers various programs for professional development, including the Women in Higher Education Leadership program. This program is designed to empower women to lead through adversity and provides a unique opportunity for growth and renewal among diverse groups, highlighting their unique contributions and experiences.

Program Details

The Women in Higher Education Leadership program is a residential program hosted on campus at HGSE. In advance of the program, participants will work independently to complete activities, which might include listening to podcasts, watching short videos, and reading articles or case studies. On campus, participants will participate in interactive sessions with faculty, and, with their guidance, apply analytical frameworks to their context. They will also work in small groups for application, reflection, and peer coaching activities.

Learning Goals

The program aims to help participants:

• Learn strategies for prioritizing their equity agenda, especially in tumultuous times.
• Explore ways to build and sustain collaborative relationships with their team and stakeholders.
• Gain essential negotiation skills to ensure their resource needs are met to be effective in their leadership role.
• Understand the nature of their professional challenges and how biases related to gender and race are at play, and explore ways to respond.
• Create a lasting network of women leaders across the sector who affect change in education.

Faculty

The program is led by:

• Kathleen McCartney, Dean, Emerita, HGSE
• Deborah Jewell-Sherman, Gregory R. Anrig Professor of Practice, Emerita
• Additional speakers include:
  • Adjunct Lecturer in Public Policy, Harvard Kennedy School
  • Diane Doerge Wilson Professor of Business Administration, Harvard Business School
  • President Emerita Harvard University and Arthur Kingsley Porter University Research Professor
  • Kathleen McCartney Professor of Education Leadership
  • Director, Counseling Program, Senior Lecturer on Education
  • Executive Vice President, Edelman
  • Senior Advisor, WittKieffer
  • Lecturer on Education

Who Should Attend

The program is designed for senior leaders across higher education, including:

• Program directors
• Department chairs
• Other administrative leaders in higher education

Tuition

The tuition covers all instructional materials, a daily continental breakfast, and beverages and light refreshments during scheduled breaks between sessions. Travel, lodging expenses, and most lunches and 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
• LGBTQIA+ Leadership in Higher Education
• Leadership in Strategic Enrollment Management

Additional Resources

For more information about the program, please refer to the Harvard Graduate School of Education's website. The university is committed to providing equal treatment in education without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, gender identity, sexual orientation, pregnancy and pregnancy-related conditions, or any other characteristic protected by law.