Welcome to BRIDGES

The BRIDGES Academic Leadership Program offers UNC Charlotte faculty and staff the opportunity to develop and strengthen their leadership skills, knowledge, and networking in order to be successful change agents in their communities.

2025 BRIDGES Cohort

BRIDGES was originally founded as a leadership program exclusively for women. Since then, it has expanded its mission to include all higher education professionals seeking to gain or strengthen their academic leadership capabilities. BRIDGES is designed to help participants identify, understand, and build their leadership roles in the academy. Through an intensive program, participants will:

• develop insights into leadership, with a particular focus on the special skills and attributes unique to leadership roles
• acquire an understanding of the many facets of colleges and universities
• build strategic negotiation skills, and
• create a program of personal and professional development to benefit themselves and their institutions.

Who should participate? Individuals from four-year North Carolina institutions of higher education, both public and independent, who want to position themselves for advancement in the academy, including:

• faculty interested in developing their leadership skills
• faculty looking to move into academic administration
• administrators and professional staff with managerial and supervisory responsibilities
• administrators and professional staff seeking a greater range of responsibilities

Fall 2026 Schedule:

For more information, including program details and cost, you may also wish to visit the UNC Chapel Hill BRIDGES’ website.