ADEA Leadership Institute at a Glance

The ADEA Leadership Institute is a yearlong program designed to develop the most promising individuals at academic dental institutions to become future leaders in dental and higher education.


As the flagship program for exceptional mid-career faculty and administrators, the ADEA Leadership Institute goes well beyond standard professional development. Fellows who have graduated from the Institute hold positions ranging from department chairs to program directors to deans of dental schools.


Ready to Take Your Leadership to the Next Level? Submit your application by Sept. 12, 2024.


ADEA Leadership Institute Phases

2025-26

Orientation
March 7–8, 2025
National Harbor, MD
2025 ADEA Annual Session & Exhibition

Phase I
Personal and Interpersonal Competencies for Leadership, June 24–28, 2025
CA

Phase II
Legislative Workshop, September 21–24, 2025
ADEA office, Washington, DC

Phase III
Administrative Competencies for Leadership, January 11–14, 2026
ADEA office, Washington, DC

Phase IV
Integration, March 20–21, 2026
Montreal, Canada
2026 ADEA Annual Session & Exhibition


2024-25

Orientation
March 8–9, 2024
New Orleans, LA
2024 ADEA Annual Session & Exhibition

Phase I
Personal and Interpersonal Competencies for Leadership, June 25–29, 2024
San Diego, CA

Phase II
Legislative Workshop, September 22–25, 2024
ADEA office, Washington, DC

Phase III
Administrative Competencies for Leadership, January 11–14, 2025
ADEA office, Washington, DC

Phase IV
Integration, March 7–8, 2025
National Harbor, MD
2025 ADEA Annual Session & Exhibition


Continuing Education

The American Dental Education Association designates this activity for up to 67 continuing education credits.



 

All who are ready to step up to leadership and want to:

  • Gain decision-making, priority setting and conflict resolution skills—and the knowledge needed to use them effectively.
  • Expand their administrative competencies.
  • Understand the inner workings of a dental education institution—and how it fits into a parent institution.
  • Learn about policy issues affecting academic dentistry.
  • Speak as an advocate with national policymakers.
  • Strengthen relationships within their institutions and nationwide.
  • Emerge with a plan for their careers. 

 Learn More on How to Apply to the ADEA Leadership Institute.

 

ADEA is committed to supporting this important program and subsidizes a significant portion of the actual cost—allowing us to keep tuition costs at $5,950 for the past several years.

Tuition and fees include: 

  • Resource books and other materials,
  • Speakers, consultants and moderators in all phases and all locations and
  • Group events, such as receptions, selected meals, and registration for the ADEA Signature Series and Commencement at the ADEA Annual Session & Exhibition. 

The nominating institution agrees to pay the Fellow’s full salary and benefits during the fellowship year. The nominating institution is responsible for all travel and personal expenses associated with participation in the ADEA Leadership Institute, including airfare, ground transportation, lodging and some meals.

ADEA provides a limited number of scholarships to offset the cost of the ADEA Leadership Institute.

 

Upon completion of the ADEA Leadership Institute, you will be able to: 

  • Effectively use decision-making, priority-setting and conflict resolution skills. 
  • Expand your administrative competencies. 
  • Describe the inner workings of dental education institutions and their relationships with parent institutions.
  • Discuss important policy issues affecting academic dentistry. 
  • Speak as an advocate with national policymakers. 
  • Strengthen relationships within and beyond your institution.  
  • Implement a plan for your career. 
  • Engage more effectively with your institution.

 Learn More on How to Apply to the ADEA Leadership Institute.

 

The ADEA Leadership Institute Experience consists of an orientation and four phases. 


Orientation 


Before the ADEA Leadership Institute formally begins, new Fellows participate in an online orientation, during which they meet the faculty and advisors and prepare for the year ahead. After this and before Phase I, Fellows complete preparatory work (e.g., reading assignments and meetings with their deans) and receive their peer group assignments for their team project. Fellows also select topics for their team projects, which they will work on from their home institutions.

Team Project

One of the most rewarding aspects of the ADEA Leadership Institute is working in a team of six peers. These peer groups collaborate to conduct a series of interviews with academic, dental and legislative leaders (e.g., institution president or provost, vice president for development, vice president for academic affairs, state legislator, and state leaders in organized dentistry).

Fellows select interviewees, develop interview questions, and determine roles for converting information into presentations of their findings, which take place in Phase II. Deans and directors help Fellows schedule these interviews.

The peer groups develop position papers on a critical issue in dental education.

Through this process the Fellows:

  • Explore a major issue and acquire a thorough understanding of it from a broad perspective;
  • Gain the perspective of the academic dental institution in the broad context of that issue, the parent institution and the external environment; and
  • Learn to work in a team to prepare and submit a manuscript for publication.


Phase I: Personal and Interpersonal Competencies for Leadership


Phase I is an intensive five-day program covering:

  • Theories of leadership,
  • Team building,
  • Personality preferences and leadership,
  • Peer assessment,
  • Mentoring,
  • Stress management,
  • Strategies for leading change and
  • Giving and receiving feedback.


Phase II: Legislative Workshop 


Phase II focuses on public policy in Washington, DC.

Fellows will:

  • Get up-to-date information on legislation that impacts oral health and dental education,
  • Gain new insight into how Congress and the legislative process work,
  • Meet and educate policy makers face-to-face and advocate for their programs,
  • Network and share information with colleagues about their institutions’ activities,
  • Enhance their legislative leadership skills and
  • Present findings from their team projects.


Phase III: Administrative Competencies for Leadership 


Phase III promotes the development of administrative competencies necessary for leadership.

Highlighted topics include:

  • Academic dental institutions' standings within parent institutions,
  • Negotiation,
  • Building a research program,
  • Budgeting and financial management and
  • Legal issues.


Phase IV: Integration  


Fellows and their deans and program directors celebrate with a commencement dinner the evening before the ADEA Annual Session & Exhibition formally begins.

During the ADEA Annual Session & Exhibition:

  • Fellows participate in a three-hour faculty development workshop that is open to all ADEA members.
  • Fellows are formally recognized at a plenary session.
  • Fellows interact with alumni through the ADEA Leadership Institute Alumni Association.

 

Please contact the ADEA Office of Learning at ProfessionalDevelopment@adea.org with any questions.

The American Dental Education Association is an ADA CERP Recognized Provider.

ADA CERP is a service of the American Dental Association to assist dental professionals in identifying quality providers of continuing dental education. ADA CERP does not approve or endorse individual courses or instructors, nor does it imply acceptance of credit hours by boards of dentistry.

The American Dental Education Association designates this activity for up to 67 continuing education credits.

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All speakers agree that neither they nor members of their immediate family have any financial relationships with commercial entities that may be relevant to their presentation.