Announcing the Big Ten Academic Alliance Leadership Institute

Since 1989, the Big Ten Academic Alliance has developed exceptional leaders in higher education, supporting thousands of faculty and administrators whose influence extends across our universities and throughout the academic community.

Today, we formally introduce the Big Ten Academic Alliance Leadership Institute.

The Leadership Institute brings together our flagship programs, the Academic Leadership Program (ALP), Department Executive Officer Program (DEO), and Deans Leadership Program (DLP), under a unified identity that reflects both their individual excellence and their shared, collective impact. These nationally recognized programs have shaped a powerful network of senior leaders across higher education, including deans, provosts, and presidents.

This moment is especially meaningful for those who have participated in and contributed to these programs. They are the legacy of this work. Through leadership across departments, colleges, universities, and the broader higher education landscape, this community continues to demonstrate its strength and the impact of leaders working across institutions.

“I think institutions have valued each program individually,” Helen Malone, Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs at The Ohio State University shared. “Understanding that they are related to one another and that the BTAA supports staff, faculty, DEOs, and deans across its programming elevates the clarity of the leadership development work of the BTAA.”

The Leadership Institute builds on decades of collaboration and brings greater visibility to this work at a national level, highlighting both the programs and the community of leaders they connect.

"The Big Ten Academic Alliance is more than a partnership—it's an investment in people," said Fredrick M. Nafukho, Vice Provost for the Office for Academic Personnel and Faculty at the University of Washington. "The BTAA Leadership Institute stands as a clear expression of that commitment, shaping leaders who serve with clarity, purpose, and genuine dedication to those they lead."

The Institute reflects both continuity and growth. While ALP, DEO, and DLP remain the foundation, it will continue to expand to meet evolving leadership needs and prepare leaders for the future of higher education.

Barbara Wilson, President of the University of Iowa, emphasized the significance of unifying the programs under a single identity, noting that "The ALP, DEO, and DLP programs have helped develop generations of higher education leaders committed to excellence in teaching, research, and service. At a time of growing complexity in higher education, leadership development is more important than ever. By bringing these programs together under the Big Ten Academic Alliance Leadership Institute, our 18 universities reaffirm a shared commitment to strengthening leadership capacity and investing in our people."

At its core, the Leadership Institute strengthens what has always distinguished these efforts: meaningful connections across institutions. Participants gain both expert leadership development and access to a trusted network of peers whose relationships foster collaboration, insight, and lasting shared impact. As William Bernhard, Executive Vice Provost at the University of Illinois, reflected, “The skills I learned in the BTAA Leadership Institute have made me a more effective manager, but it is the relationships that I built there that have transformed me into a more thoughtful and strategic leader.”

As we celebrate this milestone, we recognize and appreciate the community that continues to sustain and advance this work.

We invite you to share this news with your colleagues and networks. Your voice and your story help extend the reach of the Leadership Institute and shape the next generation of leaders. Together, we look forward to advancing leadership and its collective impact across higher education for years to come.

To stay connected, follow us on the Big Ten Academic Alliance LinkedIn page.

Media Inquiries: Charity Farber, Director of the Leadership Institute