Leadership Academy
The National Association of Workforce Development Professionals (NAWDP) Leadership Academy is designed to empower and equip leaders with the essential skills, knowledge, and innovative strategies needed to drive transformational change within the workforce development sector. Our commitment is to foster a community of excellence where professional growth and leadership are cultivated through collaborative learning, cutting-edge research, and practical application.
The Leadership Academy is offered in cooperation with the University of Georgia (UGA) and its J.W. Fanning Institute for Leadership Development.
What You Should Know About The NAWDP Leadership Academy
Meet the Facilitators
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From cohorts and digital learning series to conferences and academies, NAWDP has a number of opportunities for those in leadership. Stay connected to keep up-to-date on all of NAWDP’s offerings.
A total of 25 individuals are accepted into each cohort. Those who complete the NAWDP Leadership Academy will earn a Certificate from the University of Georgia’s J.W. Fanning Institute of Leadership Development, and a Certification, the Certified Workforce Development Leader (CWDL) from the National Association of Workforce Development Professionals (NAWDP).
Competencies
The NAWDP Leadership Academy will focus on three areas of leadership competencies that are essential in the workforce development sector:
- Self-Understanding and Awareness
- Building Positive and Effective Relationships
- Transforming Thoughts and Visions into Action
These competencies will be the focus across five sessions and a capstone project.
Cost
The fee for the NAWDP Leadership Academy is $2,500.
Apply
The next cohort application period will begin on October 1, 2025.
Meet The 2025-26 COHORT Participants
The first cohort is comprised of 25 leaders from 16 states across the country. The cohort represents varying experience levels and organization types, including non-profit, local government, workforce development boards, American Job Centers, community colleges, 4-year institutions, business and industry, for-profit, and Academic Health Systems.