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Leadership Institute

The Leadership Institute is designed to meet the ever evolving needs of opportunity programs in higher education. It aims to assist professionals at all levels including new directors, assistant directors, counselors, coordinators, and those working directly with students. It also would benefit those who wish to take a holistic approach to their profession, strengthen their leadership skills, and share strategies with their colleagues.

The next Leadership Institute will take place April 3-4, 2027 beginning at 11:30 am at Harrah’s in Atlantic City, NJ. See flyer (PDF).
Register Now. 

  • NEXTGen’s pre-conference session creates an inclusive space for professionals at all levels to take a holistic approach to burnout and work-related stress, exploring how burnout shows up in our work and bodies, how to prevent it, and how to reconnect with our values and purpose.
  • Led by Shani Gardner, LCSW, a specialist in burnout prevention and resilience for professionals in high-stress, mission-driven environments, this engaging and actionable workshop draws on nervous system regulation, boundary-setting, and values-driven decision-making.
  • Participants will gain practical tools to strengthen resilience, sustain their capacity, and build healthier, more effective ways of working while remaining connected to the impact they care deeply about.

Although participation is not restricted, the targeted population for this institute is faculty and staff from the opportunity programs in New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. Visit the 2025 Leadership Archive to learn more.

Conference Resources

If you completed the Leadership Institute you can log-in and review the Leadership Institute Materials.
Cover from Group 4 presentation

Here is a sample presentation from TSC Group 4 in 2019 (PDF).

Engaging & Inspiring Leadership

The Leadership Institute seeks participants through nominations endorsed by:

  • Programs Heads of Each State;
  • Executive Boards of Constituent Organizations in the Three States;
  • Executive Board Members of Tri-State;
  • Individual Members of Opportunity Programs; and
  • Faculty and Staff Members from the Opportunity Programs may also self-nominate.

Engage With Us!

Imagine yourself here.

Apply!

  • Candidates must complete an application and provide a letter of support from their director, dean, or provost indicating institutional support for their participation. Those continuing from a previous Leadership Institute need only to complete the application.

Benefits

  • Talent to work cooperatively with all peers in higher education;
  • Understanding of institutional and government academic policies and guidelines;
  • Ability to engage in effective student recruitment;
  • Expertise to conduct comprehensive academic and financial advising, personal, social and career counseling;
  • Proficiency to assess, review and evaluate program effectiveness;
  • Knowledge to maintain a goal oriented and needs responsive program and;
  • Experience to assume an institutional leadership role for program support.

Focus Areas

  • Developing work enhancement strategies; Assessment and Re-Assessment of the impact of work and;
  • Systematically examining definitions of leadership, career goals, skill attainment, and;
  • Being responsive to real or implied demands through a series of discussions, activities and readings.