Leadership Program

Prepare and train yourself for global leadership roles.

Summer Leadership Institute Mission Statement

The objective of the SACNAS Leadership Program is to develop the next generation of underrepresented minority scientists whose leadership contributions will serve to strengthen and unify our communities at the national and local levels. The institute prepares participants to assume leadership roles in the global scientific community by offering advanced strategic trainings that develop critical leadership skills.

What SACNAS professionals are saying about the Summer Leadership Institute

"Whenever I tell people about SLI I emphasize the quality of the Institute, the strength of the network among participants, and the focused commitment to minority leadership. I've done a fair bit of professional development and SLI is among the very best in terms of top-notch facilitators who are really invested, insightful research-based information about the realities of minorities engaged in leadership, and extremely useful, in-depth exercises for understanding your leadership style and creating a leadership development plan. I think that if CEOs could pay to have the training we received, they would line up at the door with fat checkbooks in hand."
- Lekelia (Kiki) Jenkins, PhD, Assistant Professor, University of Washington: Class of 2011

"The Institute was transformative. I will highly recommend it to everyone. Thank you for the honor of being chosen to participate."
- 2010 Leadership Institute Participant

Program Overview

The Summer Leadership Institute (SLI) provides premier training for motivated underrepresented minority (URM) scientists who wish to master the skills necessary to lead institutional transformation. Developed in collaboration with the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), the SLI is an intensive five day course featuring small group exercises, keynote speakers, leadership development planning, networking opportunities, and extensive community building among selected participants.

Program Goals

• Offer an unparalleled curriculum that focuses on issues specific to the needs of underrepresented minority (URM) science leadership.
• Establish and support a rich network of leadership-minded URM scientists.
• Provide participants with take-away tools and individual planning to leverage leadership advancement at their home institutions.

Training Venues

• Summer Leadership Institute: Developed in collaboration with the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS), the Summer Leadership Institute is an intensive five-day course featuring small group exercises, keynote speakers, leadership development planning, networking opportunities, and extensive community building among selected participants.
• Conference Leadership Workshops: During the annual national conference, SACNAS offers multiple leadership workshops aimed at three levels: postdoctoral fellows/new PhDs, junior-career professionals, and mid-career professionals.

2013 Summer Leadership Institute

Institute Date: July  22 -26, 2013

Location: Stanford University

Please review our FAQs sheet and if you have any questions please contact Marina L. Ramon, PhD, Senior Program Manager for Postdocs and Professionals