“The Nexus Institute: Developing the Next Generation of Director-Level Leaders”

In today's fast-paced, ever-evolving higher education landscape, strong, adaptive leadership is more essential than ever. That’s where Nexus comes in—a focused, strengths-based development experience designed for director-level professionals looking to sharpen their leadership skills, elevate their impact, and build a meaningful professional community.

Delivered virtually over four consecutive weeks, Nexus is not just another leadership training—it’s a strategic, action-oriented pipeline designed to both develop current talent and prepare high-potential leaders for future roles. The series is built around Gallup’s CliftonStrengths assessment and offers participants a deeply personalized journey through leadership development, team management, and organizational effectiveness.

Who Should Attend?

Nexus is ideal for director-level staff who are:

• Seeking to grow their leadership confidence and competence

• Facing team performance or engagement challenges

• Struggling with decision-making, accountability, or communication

• Preparing to advance into higher leadership roles

• Working in environments with high turnover or administrative inefficiencies

AVPs and senior leaders often see early signs—such as absenteeism, administrative breakdowns, or misalignment between team dynamics and service delivery—that signal the need for this kind of focused, skill-building experience.

How It Works

The program consists of four 90-minute virtual sessions, held weekly on Tuesdays at 11 a.m. Pacific Time. Each session is interactive and cohort-based, allowing participants to build relationships and learn collaboratively. The cohort model also provides a pipeline into more advanced leadership development opportunities after the program.

• Cost: $499

• Cohort Size: 8–30 participants

• Duration: 4 weeks

• Required: Full CliftonStrengths 34-report

Curriculum Overview

Session 1: A Strengths-Based Approach to Leadership

Participants explore the power of their CliftonStrengths themes and how to harness them in decision-making, team management, and organizational influence. They learn to navigate their reports and identify long- and short-term development goals.

Session 2: Developing and Nurturing a Team

This session dives into the essentials of setting clear, aligned expectations with team members and collaborators. Participants practice building accountability systems and developing collaborative strategies that drive team performance.

Session 3: Group Dynamics and Conflict Management

Here, participants apply a strategic lens to team development, learning how to navigate the stages of group growth, manage conflict productively, and lead teams through transitions with clarity and cohesion.

Session 4: A Culture of Feedback

The final session equips participants to give and receive feedback in ways that foster psychological safety and continuous improvement. It emphasizes building a culture of trust and learning within their teams.

Benefits to Institutions

Nexus isn’t just an investment in individuals—it’s a tool for organizational transformation. Institutions benefit from:

• Stronger, more strategic mid-level leadership

• Healthier team dynamics and reduced turnover

• Improved service delivery and operational performance

• Leaders who can support student success, retention, and institutional growth

Benefits to Participants

Participants leave with:

• Increased leadership competence and confidence

• A clear understanding of their strengths and how to apply them

• Improved communication and team-building skills

• A stronger sense of purpose and career trajectory

• A professional community of like-minded leaders

Nexus is more than a training—it’s a turning point. For directors ready to step into their leadership with clarity, impact, and strategic insight, this program offers the structure and support to help them thrive.