Katie Leadership Academy (KLA) is a nine-month, cohort-based leadership development experience designed to cultivate faculty and staff who demonstrate strong leadership potential and a deep commitment to St. Catherine University’s mission. It is a strategic investment in developing leaders who will strengthen the University today and into the future.

More than a program, KLA is  a commitment to leadership as a lived, shared practice across St. Kate’s. It reflects an intentional shift from isolated development efforts to a connected leadership ecosystem that strengthens people, culture, and institutional impact.

KLA reflects a proactive commitment to developing leaders from within. It supports institutional priorities—including student success, operational excellence, and long-term sustainability—by building leadership capacity across the University.

KLA is grounded in the University’s Catholic identity and the charism of the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet. It develops leaders who act with integrity, foster inclusive community, and serve with purpose—bringing the mission to life through everyday leadership.

KLA is not just a training program, it is an integrated leadership experience:

• Cross-functional cohort model that builds relationships across the University
• Real institutional projects tied to strategic priorities
• Direct engagement with senior leadership
• Mentorship outside reporting lines
• Embedded reflection and well-being practices

KLA connects leadership development directly to institutional impact.

Any faculty or staff members who:

• Are employed at 0.75–1.0 FTE
• Have at least two years of continuous employment at St. Kate’s regardless of FTE
• Demonstrate leadership potential and readiness for expanded responsibility 

No. At this time, KLA is designed for full-time employees (0.75–1.0 FTE).

Yes. Leadership is not defined by title alone. Individuals who influence, inspire, and demonstrate leadership in their work are encouraged to be nominated.

Nominations may be submitted by:

• Vice Presidents
• Deans
• Directors
• Department Chairs
• Other senior leaders

No. KLA is a leader-nominated program, emphasizing recognition and investment in others. Individuals may express interest to their leader and request to be considered for nomination. All final submissions require formal endorsement from the appropriate divisional leader.

All nominations must include approval from the nominee’s divisional leader (e.g., Vice President or equivalent). This ensures alignment with divisional priorities and confirms support for the participant’s time commitment.

Yes. Supervisor and divisional leader support is required to ensure alignment with priorities and commitment to the program’s time expectations.

No. Nominees should be aware of and supportive of their nomination prior to submission, given the program’s time commitment and expectations.

Nominators should identify individuals who:

• Demonstrate initiative and influence
• Show curiosity, adaptability, and a growth mindset
• Align with institutional mission and values
• Have potential for broader leadership roles

A committee of the President's Council will review the nominations and select the cohort. 

A committee of the President's Council will review nominations and select the cohort based on:

• Leadership Initiative & Influence: Evidence of Initiative, ability to influence others, driving change, and lead beyond title with readiness for expanded leadership
• Growth Mindset & Leadership Potential: Curiosity, adaptability, openness to feedback, long-term leadership trajectory
• Mission Alignment & Institutional Contribution: Alignment with St. Kate’s mission and values, collaboration, contribution to institutional culture
• Supervisor Endorsement & Readiness: Strong supervisor advocacy with specific examples of impact and demonstrated readiness for growth
• Cohort Composition & Institutional Perspective: Representation across divisions/roles, years of service, and diversity of experiences and perspectives

Each cohort includes approximately 15–20 participants to ensure a high-impact experience.

Yes. KLA is designed as an ongoing institutional initiative with future cohorts anticipated annually.

Participants should expect a meaningful but manageable commitment:

• Monthly half-day cohort sessions
• Occasional workshops or retreats
• Reflection and applied learning
• Capstone project work

Estimated commitment: ~8 hours per month including workshop/retreat. Active participation and consistent attendance are expected.

Participants will:

• Strengthen leadership skills across four pillars:
  • Leading Self
  • Leading Others
  • Leading the Institution
  • Leading Forward
• Build cross-campus relationships
• Gain deeper institutional understanding
• Receive feedback and development support
• Apply learning to real institutional challenges

Each participant is paired with a senior leader mentor outside their reporting line who:

• Meets monthly with the participant
• Provides guidance and institutional perspective
• Supports leadership growth and application

Participants collaborate in cross-functional teams to address real institutional challenges.
Projects are presented to senior leadership at the end of the program, contributing tangible value to the university.

Participants are supported through:

• Peer coaching groups
• Monthly mentor meetings
• Reflective journaling and guided prompts

These elements support continuous learning and integration.

• Start: August 2026
• End: May 2027

Sessions are typically held on the third Friday of each month (10 a.m. – 2 p.m.), including:

• Kickoff: August 21, 2026
• Monthly sessions: September–April (December break)
• Closing session: May 14, 2027

Fridays were selected for the inaugural cohort to balance availability across a range of staff and faculty schedules. We recognize this timing may not work equally well for everyone, particularly faculty with fixed teaching commitments. Future cohorts will be scheduled with broader input to improve accessibility — including consideration of faculty teaching schedules — so that timing is never a barrier to participation. 

• Open: May 18, 2026
• Close: June 1, 2026

Participants will be notified in June 2026.

No. KLA is fully funded by the university as an investment in faculty and staff development.

Yes, in a meaningful way. KLA participation is recognized as a significant professional development achievement and is woven into your developmental conversations with your supervisor.

Nomination and selection can be identified as a professional development goal at the start of the program year. Upon completion, it is recognized as an accomplishment in your annual review. The experience and growth gained through KLA are meant to enrich the ongoing dialogue between you and your supervisor about your leadership journey and future contributions at St. Kate's.

No. KLA builds leadership readiness but does not guarantee advancement. It strengthens visibility, capability, and preparedness for future opportunities.

KLA enhances:

• Leadership capability
• Institutional visibility
• Readiness for expanded roles

It is a meaningful step in professional and leadership development.

• Counts as a significant professional development achievement
• Referenced in annual reviews as both a goal and an accomplishment, and included in developmental conversations
• Completion is marked by a formal certificate and institutional recognition

Supervisors:

• Nominate participants
• Support time commitment
• Reinforce learning through performance conversations

Leadership development is most effective when supported across the institution.

The dynamic KLA website and landing page will include:

• Program details
• Nomination form
• Key dates and FAQs
• Contact information

President’s Senior Fellow for Leadership Integration, Anupama Pasricha, Ph.D.

Email:  KLA@stkate.edu

• Alumni network
• Continued leadership engagement

• Attendance requirements, 90% attendance is expected
• There is an option for formal withdrawal though a letter to the President's Senior Fellow for Leadership Integration via email KLA@stkate.edu. The letter should be copied to the nominator and supervisor.

Each cohort will complete capstone projects as the culminating experience of KLA. Projects are identified, sponsored & scoped  by senior leadership — not self-designed by participants — ensuring the work is directly tied to institutional priorities and has real impact beyond the program.

Participants will work in small teams, with each team selecting a project from a curated menu of institutionally identified priorities. All projects are designed with equivalent scope and workload to ensure a comparable and equitable experience across the cohort. 

Capstone projects are presented to senior leadership at the conclusion of the program and may inform institutional decisions or initiatives — reflecting St. Kate's commitment to taking participant contributions seriously.

The program will offer AI-supported leadership development tools as an optional resource for participants seeking further to strengthen their self-assessment, reflection, and leadership effectiveness.

• Yes, selective cohort
• Designed for high-impact experience