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Professional Development
In accordance with Harvard University policy, Professional Education at the Harvard Graduate School of Education affirms the right of all individuals to 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.
College and university presidents and chancellors are expected to be productive, articulate, and responsive leaders from the moment they assume office. With an array of external and institutional challenges to address, new presidents do not have the luxury of learning on the job.
The Harvard Seminar for New Presidents provides a practical orientation to the presidency, familiarizing new presidents with the opportunities and hazards they will likely face and preparing them to respond to the multiple responsibilities that await in their new roles. The program welcomes interest and applications from all practitioners in the field.
"The Harvard Seminar for New Presidents was invaluable to me as I navigated the first year of my presidency. I received practical advice during the program that I have often cited to my trustees and senior staff. But what was most valuable is the other presidents with whom I continue to speak, meet, and ask advice of, long after the seminar ended. The network, the advice, and the camaraderie were simply priceless." Joanne Berger-Sweeney, President, Trinity College
"The Harvard Seminar for New Presidents was invaluable to me as I navigated the first year of my presidency. I received practical advice during the program that I have often cited to my trustees and senior staff. But what was most valuable is the other presidents with whom I continue to speak, meet, and ask advice of, long after the seminar ended. The network, the advice, and the camaraderie were simply priceless."
Joanne Berger-Sweeney, President, Trinity College
This seminar focuses on critical issues in the first months and years of the presidency, with intensive sessions that address a range of topics critical to the current context of higher education, including board governance, fundraising, academic leadership, strategic planning, and the public role of the presidency.
Harvard Seminar for New Presidents is hosted on the HGSE campus in Cambridge, Massachusetts. This learning experience will include faculty-led sessions, discussion groups with your cohort, and, most importantly, connections with an extraordinary peer group of colleagues from across the country. We will reconvene for a post-program webinar to follow up with each other and reconnect. You will have ample time to reflect and consult with experts about your particular concerns and circumstances.
*Please note that there will be faculty sessions on both Saturday, July 19th and Sunday, July 20th. We will provide and enjoy all meals together throughout the program, except for dinner on Sunday, July 20th, when you will have a free night to enjoy.
Judith Block McLaughlin’s work focuses on leadership and governance in higher education.
This program only accepts individual applications. First-time applicants need to create a Professional Education account to apply.
Click the "Apply" button at the top of this page to log into your Professional Education account and access the application page. Proceed with the application form until submission. Please note that applicants should be prepared to submit their most recent CV with the application.
Invoices will only be available upon your acceptance.
The tuition covers all instructional materials, a daily continental breakfast and lunch, and beverages and light refreshments during our scheduled breaks between sessions.
Travel, lodging expenses, and most dinners are not included in this fee. We have blocked a limited number of rooms in select hotels in the Cambridge/Boston area. The daily rates for these hotels typically range from $250 to $375 per room, plus applicable taxes. Once your applicants are accepted into the program, they will receive detailed information about these hotel options.
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 your leadership capacity and help you meet the evolving challenges of higher education.Learn more about the Executive Certificate in Higher Education Leadership.