Explore our programs — offering exceptional academic preparation, opportunities for growth, and the tools to make an impact.
Find everything you need to apply for and finance your graduate education.
Stories, strategies, and actionable knowledge — putting HGSE's powerful ideas into practice.
With deep expertise that connects research, practice, and policy, HGSE faculty are leaders in the field.
Get to know our community — and all the ways to learn, collaborate, connect, develop your career, and build your network.
Faculty-led programs to deepen your impact and build your effectiveness as an educator and leader.
Access the premiere education subject library for Harvard University.
Access the Office of Student Affairs, the Office of the Registrar, Career Services, and other key resources.
Explore opportunities to grow, build connections, and create change.
Professional Development
Develop the indispensable skills and intentional practices you need to become a more inspiring communicator and leader – identify your core values, find your authentic voice, and navigate your toughest challenges with courage and integrity.
Click here to inquire about a custom engagement for your organization.
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.
In an educational landscape disrupted by the deepening divisions of our broader society, it is more important than ever for educators to communicate with courage and lead with integrity. How can we express our personal values and collective aspirations in ways that cultivate relationships and sustain communities with different kinds of people? In other words, how can we align our "talk" with our "walk"?
Launched in 2025, the B.R.A.V.E. Institute is designed to provide educators with values-based practices needed to become more effective and inspiring communicators and leaders who can navigate the complexities and challenges facing the field of education. Based on the pioneering work of award-winning historian, educator, and human rights defender Timothy Patrick McCarthy, this program will inspire education leaders who want to foster cultures of compassion, community, and courage in the educational settings that matter most to them. The program welcomes interest and applications from all practitioners in the field.
The B.R.A.V.E. Institute consists of four days of in-person teaching, learning, and practice on campus at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. Led by world-class faculty, participants will develop and deepen their leadership and communication skills through larger group sessions and smaller cohort meetings. They will focus on the real-world application of Timothy Patrick McCarthy’s B.R.A.V.E. framework:
By the end of the course, participants will learn to:
A historian of social movements, Dr. McCarthy teaches courses on equity and education, leadership and communications, and the history and politics of social change.
The B.R.A.V.E. Institute was developed to serve established and emerging education leaders facing real-world challenges, including:
This program welcomes applications from both individuals and teams. First-time applicants need to create a Professional Education account to apply.
Individuals: 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 individual form until submission.
Teams: Designate one participant or an administrative staff member as the Coordinator.
Invoices: Invoices will only be available upon your acceptance.
A new professional development institute helps educators find their courage
Timothy McCarthy on his humble roots, talking too much, and the many ways he hit the jackpot