HGSE to Offer Seminar on Advancement Leadership for Presidents

The Harvard Institutes for Higher Education (HIHE) is collaborating with the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE) to offer a new professional development program for college and university presidents. The Seminar on Advancement Leadership for Presidents, held in Cambridge April 12–14, 2015, is designed to help college and university chief executives address critical strategic questions about the institutional advancement function and the president’s role within it.

“I am delighted that this program will bring together the distinctive assets and capabilities of both CASE and HIHE to address this important topic in a comprehensive and powerful way,” said John Lippincott, CASE president. “This ‘presidents-only’ gathering will focus on effective leadership of the key institutional advancement functions, including alumni relations, communications, fundraising, and marketing.”

The program will convene presidents from all sectors of higher education in an interactive, retreat-like environment where they will learn from Harvard higher education faculty experts, accomplished institutional advancement practitioners, and fellow presidents facing similar leadership challenges.   

“Within higher education’s current turbulent context, the success of a college or university president is often measured by his or her ability to secure critical institutional resources through effective “friendraising” and fundraising activities,” said Lecturer Joe Zolner, faculty chair for the seminar. “The Seminar on Advancement Leadership for Presidents will provide a valuable opportunity for presidents to gain new insights, assess current institutional practices, share experiences, raise questions, and forge new networks among supportive colleagues, expert faculty, and experienced practitioners.”

The Seminar on Advancement Leadership for Presidents is a HIHE program offered through HGSE, which has offered professional development programs for education leaders for more than 45 years. Applications for the program are now being accepted online. For additional information or to apply, visit gse.harvard.edu/ppe/program/seminar-advancement-leadership-presidents.