Female worker employee standing at office workplace taking short break in work looking at distance planning future career

Women in Academic Leadership 2025

Online from April 14 to June 20

This program’s seven synchronous sessions will be highly interactive, incorporating group work, case studies, and breakout room discussions. Learn from Dena McMartin, Gina Grandy and other women leaders in higher education. Meet in small groups with mentors and participate in a 360 self-assessment. 

New this year: Benefit from group coaching sessions with an executive coach. 

Fees: $3,150 plus GST
Pricing subject to change without notice.

2025

One Monday and six Friday sessions

Monday, April 1410:30 am - 1:00 pm CDT
Friday, April 2510:30 am - 1:00 pm CDT
Friday, May 1610:30 am - 1:00 pm CDT
Friday, May 2310:30 am – 1:30 pm CDT
Friday, June 610:30 am – 1:00 pm CDT
Friday, June 1310:30 am - 1:30 pm CDT
Friday, June 2010:30 am - 1:00 pm CDT

Key topic areas

  • Women in higher education leadership in Canada
  • Power and politics in the academy, multiple sources of power, complexities of intra-gender relationships, privilege, colonization and intersectionality theory
  • Identifying your personal academic principles/values
  • Self-awareness and understanding your leadership style and approach
  • Being strategic and creating your leadership presence
  • Leading positive change
  • Addressing inequality in the academy, mobilizing and building coalitions
  • Life between and after leadership roles

Explore your career options with Women in Academic Leadership

The knowledge and skills you acquire in this course could be valuable in the following careers. Explore these options. Learn which top skills are required, how many are currently employed, and what they are earning.

Course description

  • Women in Academic Leadership was designed for the women who will become our next academic leaders, women like you. Build your leadership skills and learn how to address the unique issues you may face in the higher education environment. CHERD realizes that although we have made progress, women are still significantly under-represented across senior academic positions. In fact, many Canadian universities have yet to appoint a female president. If you have achieved an early to mid-level of academic leadership and now have your sights on reaching higher levels of academic leadership, join us. Let’s work together, to make a difference in the world of higher education and in your career.

    Delivery methods

    Over the last years, due to COVID-19, Women in Academic Leadership was delivered online using a range of synchronous and asynchronous technologies to facilitate building a community of practice to learn and network. This year, we are once again continuing this practice to provide accessibility regardless of time, travel, and budget constraints. It is also a sustainable option, helping us all to reduce our carbon footprint. 

  • The woman is using her laptop to join a virtual meeting.

Who you will hear and learn from this year

Facilitators


Gina Grandy

Gina Grandy, Dean and Professor, Haskayne School of Business, University of Calgary

Previously, Gina Grandy held the roles of Dean and Associate Dean (Research and Graduate Studies) at the Hill and Levene School of Business, University of Regina. She was also RBC Women in Leadership Scholar and served as lead for the Women Entrepreneurship Knowledge Hub (WEKH) in Saskatchewan.

Gina is the co-editor of two books. Her research on leadership, gender and women’s experiences at work, and stigmatized work has been published widely. Gina is active in the community with various initiatives and bodies that work to redress gender disadvantage. She has been a facilitator for CHERD’s Women in Academic Leadership and was the co-organizer of the Senior Women Academic Administrators of Canada (SWAAC) 2020 Conference hosted by the University of Regina.

photo of Dena McMartin

Dena McMartin

Dena McMartin, Vice President Research, University of Lethbridge

As the ULethbridge VP Research, Dena McMartin has responsibility for the collective effort of creating opportunities to advance innovation and impact of academic research, scholarship, and creative arts.

Dena is also a leading researcher in rural and agricultural water management. As both a Professional Engineer and a Professional Agrologist, Dena works extensively with industry, community, and government partners to address emerging priority issues relating to water quality and quantity. She currently serves on the International St. Mary and Milk Rivers Study Board of the International Joint Commission.

As well, Dena contributes to a number of national and regional engineering, science and innovation boards focused on integrating diversity into science and engineering research and technology development.

Nomination process

Women in academic administration positions are generally nominated/selected to participate in WIAL by their home institutions. We encourage universities and colleges to support women from diverse groups, to create a community of leaders more reflective of the Canadian environment. Individuals who have been nominated/selected by their home institution should apply as soon as possible, as enrollment is limited.

Learn more about the program

Andhra Goundrey

“It’s not just a lecture. Meeting with executive women, learning from their stories, challenges and experiences, putting our heads together to collaborate further empowered me. It was an excellent experience, an opportunity to really reflect on your leadership practices and take it to the next step of excellence.

“It inspired me to apply for the position of dean…I am now confident there is a place for me.” 

Andhra Goundrey
Wilson School of Design, Kwantlen Polytechnic University

Keltie Jones

“I am leaving here with more of a spark than when I arrived. This is an opportunity for learning and reflection, with an incredible added bonus. You develop a network with women you may have no chance of otherwise meeting.

“Leadership is believing in yourself. Do what you need to do to accomplish this.”

Keltie Jones
Faculty of Agriculture, Dalhousie University

Susan Tighe

“It was broad and diverse, an enriching experience. The peer sharing as well as the quality of the mentors and the facilitators really contributed to the experience. The mentor groups were smaller, and everyone was very honest about their challenges, strategies and tools.

“Do you want the title or do you want the job? That question stuck with me. Don’t be afraid of change and challenges. Continue your growth journey.”

Susan Tighe
University of Waterloo

Ana Campos

“My dean/boss told me and my two female colleagues we needed to come. There are only three women in our faculty council. It was a great event, fantastic. It gave me framework for high-level thinking and practical tools. It showed me how to find a vision from the bottom up, to get people to walk in each other’s shoes.

“I am from Brazil. I came to Canada for my job. It gave me the opportunity to get to know people from other provinces, to learn about cultures and values.”

Ana Campos
School of Interdisciplinary Science, McMaster University

Request more information

If you have questions about this or any other programs and courses we offer, please use this form to let us know.

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Contact us

Extended Education
185 Extended Education Complex
University of Manitoba (Fort Garry campus)
Winnipeg, MB R3T 2N2 Canada

204-474-8800
Toll free: 1-888-216-7011