The AAFCS Community on Building Leadership Capacity is presenting the AAFCS Leadership Academy for new professionals who wish to design their own leadership plan in order to secure their preferred future as leaders in AAFCS. (Preference given to those with BS degree or greater with 7 years or less of membership in AAFCS) The 2023 Leadership Academy will begin with virtual sessions starting in April 2023. The Academy will be held one and one-half days prior to the 2023 AAFCS Annual Conference with sessions also held during the Annual Conference. Activities of the Academy will continue throughout the following year with conference/Zoom calls, additional interactive learnings, networking with fellow participants to complete two selected projects which benefit affiliates and  and interacting with mentors.The next Leadership Academy will be 2025. Look for information about the 2025 Academy to be posted soon!!! Scroll down to see our 2023 and past participants!

Additional Information for Potential Participants and Mentors

Academy Participants

The Leadership Academy is an organized effort to assure that a professional cohort of potential new leaders will be available to assume leadership positions in committees, communities, councils, and as elected officers nationally or at the affiliate level in AAFCS for this decade and beyond. Focusing on new leaders, the Academy will address competencies needed for assessing one’s attributes and skills in Leading Yourself, Leading Others, and Leading AAFCS. Seasoned leaders will serve as mentors.

AS A PARTICIPANT YOU WILL:

1. Gain knowledge and skills that facilitate the development of personal leadership skills (Leading Oneself).
2. Assume leadership roles in AAFCS (Leading AAFCS/Leading Others).
3. Develop a supporting network of colleagues who will link new leaders with resources throughout their professional and volunteer experiences. (Leading Oneself).
4. Partner with a mentor to enhance leadership abilities.

PARTICIPANT REQUIREMENTS

In preparation for the next Academy in 2025, here are the participant requirements:

• Preference given to those who have been an  AAFCS Professional Member for 7 years or less (as of Oct. 1, 2024)
• B.S. degree or greater (by August 31, 2024)
• Must participate in the virtual sessions prior to the Academy, attend the 2025 Leadership Academy and AAFCS Annual Conference
• Commit to work with a project advisor and a cohort April 2023-June 2026 on further development of leadership skills through identifying a topic that needs addressing and completing a project, applying it on the Affiliate and National levels.
• Commit to one year beginning April 2025 to work with a mentor (identified through the Academy matching process) to enhance your leadership abilities and meet your individual leadership goals.
• Participate and be involved in networking and ongoing learning and interacting online
• Attendance at 2026 Annual Conference strongly encouraged.

A vital part of the Leadership Academy will be the pairing of the Academy participant with a mentor who is an AAFCS member who has been active in various aspects of leadership with AAFCS. Mentor/mentee pairing will take place in April with opportunities for pairs to interact virtually before  the June Academy. Mentors will not participate in the Academy but will interact with participants in one sessions at the 2025 AAFCS Annual Conference and then continue interaction as mentor/mentee pairs throughout the following year. Deadline to apply is February 15, 2025.

AS A MENTOR YOU WILL:

• Spend time connecting with your mentee to gain insight as to his/her needs.
• Work with the mentee to develop goals for the mentee/mentor relationship.
• Identify and use multiple venues of communications with your mentee.
• Commit to one year beginning April 2025 to a mentor/mentee relationship.
• Partner with a mentee to enhance leadership abilities.

Mentor REQUIREMENTS

• Must have had National and/or Affiliate leadership experience in AAFCS.
• Have a minimum of 5 years of membership.
• Desire to develop AAFCS leaders.
• Interact with your mentee in one virtual session scheduled prior to the 2025 AAFCS Annual Conference and one session during the Annual Conference.
• Commit to a minimum of one year beginning April 2025.