Leadership Development Program

Ready, Set, Lead!

What is ASHA's Leadership Development Program (LDP)?

The Leadership Development Program is a year-long program for ASHA members with leadership potential. The program encourages you to develop your leadership skills and give back to the professions through volunteering—whether with ASHA, at your workplace or for a related professional organization.

Here is what current Leadership Development Program participants are saying about the most rewarding aspects of the LDP:

• Collaborating with colleagues
• Learning new ideas/strategies for setting goals, formulating a project and articulating a vision
• Being able to discover my strengths and challenges as a leader and to develop those further along with my colleagues
• Gaining leadership perspective from professionals
• Gaining a leadership support staff of friends

2018 LDP Cohorts

The two cohorts of the Leadership Development Program in 2018 are Audiologists and Speech-Pathologists (spring kick-off) and Health Care Professionals (summer kick-off).

What are the components of the Program?

If selected, you must commit to all program components:

• Participate in a full-day Leadership Development Program face-to-face workshop.
• Participate in scheduled webinars over the course of the next year on selected leadership topics.
• Develop and complete an individual leadership project.
• Actively participate on your learning team.

What is a Learning Team?

Participants are assigned to a learning team made up of other participants. Participants meet/work with their teams in-person at the workshop and virtually throughout the year. A learning team serves as a participant's project advisory board. Teams are meant to be independent and schedule their own virtual team meetings spread over the year. Additionally, they are to provide a venue for deeper interactions and exploration of the content provided by the LDP webinar sessions.

Leadership Projects

Individual learning projects are focused on the workplace or a community or other volunteer organization, with the elements involving leadership activities such as working with a team or gathering the support of stakeholders. Examples include:

• Working on a project for your state association.
• Developing a support group or family training program.
• Working with a team to implement a new clinical or educational program.
• Working to advocate for reimbursement, legislation, or policy change.

Note: While ASHA encourages participants to use their leadership skills to collaborate with various stakeholders associated with their projects to accomplish project goals, participation in the LDP does not imply ASHA’s endorsement or official support of participants’ projects. Prior ASHA approval must be obtained before using ASHA's name on any communications associated with participation in the Leadership Development Program. Please contact Haley Jones ( hjones@asha.org) if you have questions about the possibility of using ASHA’s name in your efforts to gain visibility for your project.

What are the dates for the 2018 Leadership Development Programs?

The Leadership Development Program for Audiologists and Speech-language Pathologists will kick off on April 13, 2018, at the ASHA National Office.

The Leadership Development Program for Health Care Professionals will kick off on July 19, 2018, in Baltimore, MD, in conjunction with ASHA Connect.

Is there a fee to participate?

Yes. If your application is accepted, there is a tuition fee of $350, which covers the face-to-face program, one night's hotel accommodation, program materials, and webinars. If you choose not to use the hotel, the fee is $250. Please contact Haley Jones for more information at hjones@asha.org.

Who can apply?

The LDP seeks energetic people who are motivated to influence professional issues in speech-language pathology or audiology. Each program accepts 30 participants selected through a competitive application process. Preference is given to members who belong to a Special Interest Group, as well as to past members of the National Student Speech-Language-Hearing Association (NSSLHA). You must be an ASHA member to apply. 

LDP for audiologists and speech-language pathologists applicant requirements:

• Current ASHA member.
• No prior participation in a previous LDP cohort.
• No prior service as a chair on an ASHA committee, board, or council. No past, current, or incoming service on the ASHA Board of Directors. Leaders in state associations are welcome to apply.
• Past or present ASHA committee, council, board members (ethics, financial planning, etc.), and SIG coordinating committee members welcome to apply.
• Able to commit to participate in the year-long program and complete all program requirements. 

LDP Health Care applicant requirements: 

• Current ASHA member.
• No prior participation in a previous LDP cohort.
• Employment in a health care setting.
• No prior service as a chair on an ASHA committee, board, or council. No past, current, or incoming service on the ASHA Board of Directors. Leaders in state associations are welcome to apply.
• Past or present ASHA committee, council, board members (ethics, financial planning, etc.), and SIG coordinating committee members welcome to apply.
• Able to commit to participate in the year-long program and complete all program requirements. 

How do I apply?

We are no longer accepting applications for the 2018 Leadership Development Programs. Additional information on the 2019 cohorts will be posted in the Fall. 

Questions?

Contact Haley Jones, ASHA's Volunteer Operations Manager, at hjones@asha.org.