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.

2023 BRIDGES participants from Charlotte: Jessica Kapota, Courtney Hill, Carly Mahedy, & Wendy Fishman

While BRIDGES was originally founded as a leadership program exclusively for women, it has since expanded to include higher education professionals of all genders who seek to gain or strengthen their academic leadership capabilities. It 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 of all genders 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 2025 Schedule:

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