Leadership Development Institute

Leadership Development Institute

President Houshmand delivering a speech to the 2026 LDI cohort at their graduation ceremony.

LDI Program Overview

Eligibility: Mid-Level Management Employees (e.g. Associate Directors, Directors, Assistant or Associate Deans)

Examples of ideal candidates would be:

  • Employees recently promoted into leadership roles
  • New managerial hires who would benefit from structured leadership development
  • High-performing managers being prepared for future leadership opportunities as part of succession planning
  • Individuals who demonstrate initiative, strategic thinking, and a commitment to professional growth

Summary: The LDI is an exceptional professional development opportunity for aspirational, high achieving Rowan University employees who are seeking to enhance their leadership skill set, as well as collaborate and network with other similar minded individuals.  This transformational  program includes pre-reading assignments, a series of training classes facilitated by subject matter experts, pre and post assessments, and project work.  The program’s focus is to position future University leaders for success and  become an extraordinary career advancement and succession planning tool for Rowan University. 

Nomination Process: Divisional and department leaders can nominate an employee in their area to be in the program by completing the nomination form (received and reviewed by HR, who manages the program). Some of the nominated individuals are selected to be in the program, while others may be considered for a future cohort.

Time Frame: The due date for nominations is July 31, 2026. The program will begin in October each year and run through March, with a completion ceremony in April.

 

 

 

LDI Training Details

The Leadership Development Institute would not be possible without the members of the Faculty and Administration who facilitate all of the instructor-led classes. Their subject matter expertise is essential to the success of the program. The diversity of facilitators and topics results in a thorough and well-balanced learning experience for our participants. Additionally, the LDI participants complete some asynchronous learning through the LinkedIn Learning platform.

Curriculum

Instructor-led:

  • Essential Qualities of Leadership – Part I (What is Leadership?, Employee Engagement, Recent Trends, Culture of Respect, Motivation, Recognition, Transparency) 
  • Essential Qualities of Leadership – Part II (Power and Influence, Delegation & Coaching, Accountability, Setting Performance Expectations, Handling Difficult Conversations, Delivering and Receiving Feedback, On the Job Training Techniques) 
  • Leading with Emotional Intelligence
  • From Idea to Impact: Crafting the Case and Leading the Project
  • Leadership, Mission, & Project Development
  • The Role of Strategic Planning in Change Management
  • Conflict Resolution Strategies
  • Leading with Purpose: From Self-Awareness to Institutional Well-Being
  • Social Media and AI in a Generationally Diverse Workplace 
  • Presentation Skills for Leaders

LinkedIn Learning:

Participants will be required to complete two courses asynchronously through the LinkedIn Learning platform.

Project Work

  • LDI participants will develop, design, and implement a project for their department/division that has been approved for this program by their manager and HR. The project should either be focused on saving money for their department/Rowan (Budget-oriented), improving student or patient experience, streamlining a process through change (Operational Efficiency; Ex. An organized tracking model for delegation tracking or Creating a Procedure Manual), or building employee engagement (Ex. A recognition program within their own department).
  • Facilitate a presentation for their peers in the program and senior leadership on the project summary/plan

 

 LDI Completion Benefits

  • Career Advancement Preparation
  • Professional Development – the skills learned in the program will help participants to grow professionally and be a stronger leader for the University
  • Collaboration/Network Growth – the graduate will learn more about other areas of the University due to the cross-section of the employees in the program; will build a network of peers to collaborate with for future initiatives
  • Project Work - the selected projects benefit multiple departments across all of Rowan and the participants are given the opportunity to significantly develop their project management skills.
  • The University is recognizing and acknowledging strong talent

Testimonials:

"The LDI program put together a series of modules on topics that managers routinely face – project management, conflict resolution, strategies for affecting change, and leading with emotional intelligence, among many others. Each module was very interactive, with the facilitators engaging the participants in various “what-if” or “what would you do if…”  scenarios that I found extremely beneficial." -Robi Polikar

"The LDI was an excellent opportunity to build practical leadership skills as well as connect with peers across the University. The program has motivated me to become a better manager – one who can bring out the best in my team members, regardless of the challenges. I’m so grateful to Rowan for allowing me to participate in this meaningful course!" - Sharon Clark

 

 LDI Graduation Ceremony

LDI launched in 2020 and has since supported the development of 74 employees, graduating its fifth cohort on April 6, 2026. The institute continues to advance Rowan's leadership pipeline and strengthen the University's long-term talent development and succession planning efforts. Congratulations to all our graduates and a sincere thanks to the many colleagues whose dedication makes this program possible.

Group image of 2026 LDI cohort

Leadership Development Institute 2026 Cohort