Intercultural Leadership Program
The Office of Academic Excellence and Opportunity (AEO), offers leaders from across the university the opportunity to develop the intercultural skills and understanding necessary to contribute to institutional opportunity initiatives at all levels of the university to bring alive Tulane’s core value of “Welcoming Community.”
About the Intercultural Leadership Program (ILP)
The Intercultural Leadership Program (ILP) is a strategic and professional growth opportunity for high-performing Tulane University employees who are interested in learning about the foundations of mission-driven work to create a healthy learning, living, and working environment.
ILP participants engage in strategic and comprehensive discussions on topics such as intercultural life, organizational change leadership, restorative practices, community service, engagement, assessment, and initiatives aimed at reducing bias and working to create conditions that challenge and empower all Tulanians to reach their full potential. Facilitators in the program are leaders within Tulane, New Orleans, national, and international communities and share their lived experiences of leading change while working with a wide variety of backgrounds, experiences, and cultures.
ILP participants can sharpen their leadership skills in the areas of change management, leading groups, understanding how to create continuous improvement of our bias prevention and reduction initiatives, and more. By equipping ILP participants with these capabilities (e.g., intercultural competency, self-awareness, situational awareness, emotional intelligence, dialogue models, conflict resolution and restorative practices, decision-making, and funding structures), we aim to support them to lead effectively across cultural and social landscapes, foster collaborative environments, navigate leadership complexities, and have the opportunity to practice and apply skills learned.
Graduates of the ILP will receive a certificate, a digital badge, and a pin to distinguish themselves as a member of a network of university leaders dedicated to Tulane’s core value of “Welcoming Community" and who will be champions in leading future change initiatives in the Tulane community.
Program Goals
Through cohort-based learning, reflection, and applied leadership practice, the program focuses on
o Bringing together a network of dedicated, high-potential Tulane employees
o Learning and applying about intercultural leadership models and change management strategies that prevent and reduce bias, discrimination, and harassment
o Exploring the histories of communities at Tulane and in New Orleans, including areas of institutional success, growth, and opportunities for change
o Thinking critically about how bias, discrimination, and harassment manifest in learning, living, and working environments across campus
o Learning and applying the foundations of Tulane’s core value of Welcoming Community to create conditions that challenge and empower all Tulanians to reach their full potential
o Cultivating leadership, communication, and team-building skills necessary to promote collaborative and professional work environments
o Identifying ways to start and sustain change management efforts within the broader Tulane community and New Orleans
o Learning and practicing best practices for interculturally minded assessment and growth models that support continuous individual and organizational improvement
Curriculum
The ILP is specifically designed to give employees the time and space to think critically, grow, and develop within a network of Tulane employees who are dedicated to the continuing work of ensuring our university is one where all students, faculty, and staff feel engaged in the broader university community.
The ILP will operate August 2026 – April 2027, with various monthly sessions and topics throughout the program. Utilizing both synchronous and asynchronous learning, each month follows a 4-week cycle of one 3.5-hour in-person workshop, two 2-hour virtual live sessions, and capstone group meetings scheduled by the group. ILP participants can also sign up for ILP coaching to support their learning and growth.
The dates for the live group learning sessions are outlined below. Please note that these dates are tentative and may be subject to change.
Intercultural Leadership Program Application
Each year, only 30 participants are selected for this competitive, high-impact program. Applications open in the spring. Review the details below to check your eligibility and learn more about the application process.
The Intercultural Leadership Program (ILP) is open to full-time Tulane employees who demonstrate readiness for sustained engagement, institutional commitment, and leadership growth. All criteria listed below are required for consideration:
• Full Program Participation
o Applicants must commit to active participation across the full nine-month program. This includes attendance at a minimum of 18 of the 24 synchronous learning sessions. While limited flexibility is available, consistent engagement is expected. For faculty with changing teaching schedules, further flexibility can be discussed.
• Employment Eligibility
o Applicants must be full-time Tulane employees and must have completed two full calendar years of employment at Tulane University by the time of the orientation. Applicants do not need to have been in their current role for two years. If you feel that you are uniquely qualified for this program but do not meet this requirement, please submit your application, and the committee will review it.
• Commitment to Tulane and the Community
o Applicants must demonstrate a strong alignment with Tulane University’s core values and a sustained commitment to the Tulane community and the broader New Orleans community.
• Leadership Interest and Engagement
o Prior formal leadership experience is not required. Applicants should demonstrate an interest in leadership within and beyond Tulane, including both traditional and nontraditional approaches to leadership, and prior engagement with leadership-related initiatives or activities.
• Organizational Impact and Positive Change
o Applicants must demonstrate a commitment to engaging in organizational culture change and advancing non-discrimination and equal opportunity efforts within their units and across Tulane, as well as in New Orleans.
• Intercultural Growth and Responsibility
o Applicants must demonstrate a desire to develop the intercultural awareness, knowledge, skills, and actions necessary to build and sustain communities and to address bias and discrimination within their areas of influence.
• Readiness for Lifelong Learning
o Applicants must demonstrate readiness to invest in ongoing learning, personal development, and reflective practice that contributes to individual growth and institutional improvement.
• Engagement with AEO and TULI Programs
o Applicants are expected to have engaged with previous programs, initiatives, and activities offered through the Office of Academic Excellence and Opportunity.
o These can include, but are not limited to, professional development opportunities offered by the AEO Office, engagement with trainings or workshops offered by the AEO Office, and/or attending and participating in university-wide AEO programming.
o This may also include participation in other Tulane University Leadership Institute programs like the Emerging Leaders Program and Managers Program.
• Reporting Supervisor Support
o Applicants must secure support from their reporting supervisor. A signed letter of support must be submitted as part of the application and affirms the supervisor’s awareness of the program’s time commitment and support for the applicant’s participation.
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For the 2026–2027 admissions cycle, the Intercultural Leadership Program application will be completed entirely online through Microsoft Forms. This format supports accessibility, creates a consistent submission process, and ensures timely review by the ILP Alumni Application Review Committee.
Applicants will complete one comprehensive form that includes written responses, acknowledgements, and required document uploads. The form cannot be saved and returned to later once started, so we strongly encourage applicants to review the questions and prepare their responses in advance. After submitting, you will be able to download or save a copy of your submission for your records.
Only complete electronic submissions received through Microsoft Forms will be reviewed.
What to Expect
The application includes:
- Basic identifying information, including your legal name, preferred name, Splash ID, and current role.
- Several short essay responses, typically 100–150 words minimum, reflecting on your professional responsibilities, leadership experiences, and interest in the program.
- A leadership reflection that invites you to share a professional experience involving bias, discrimination, harassment, or retaliation. You may share as much detail as you are comfortable providing.
- A required resume or curriculum vitae upload.
- A required signed letter of support from your supervisor confirming awareness of the program’s time commitment and support for your participation.
- Required acknowledgements confirming eligibility, understanding of program expectations, and agreement with participation policies.
- An electronic signature verifying the accuracy of your submission.
We recommend setting aside sufficient uninterrupted time to complete the form in one sitting and ensuring all required documents are ready for upload before beginning.
Please save your responses via Microsoft Forms when it offers you that option so that you have them for your records.
To be considered for the 2026–2027 Intercultural Leadership Program, applicants must submit a complete online application through Microsoft Forms. Applications submitted in any other format will not be reviewed.
Before beginning the form, applicants should:
- Review the 2026–2027 ILP syllabus and curriculum in full.
- Confirm eligibility requirements.
- Discuss participation with their reporting supervisor and request a signed letter of support.
- Prepare a current resume or curriculum vitae for upload.
- Draft responses to the required questions in a separate document.
Once ready, applicants should complete and submit the Microsoft Form in one sitting. The form cannot be saved and returned to after it has been started. Only fully completed applications, including all written responses, required acknowledgements, and document uploads, will be considered.
After submission, applicants may download a copy of their completed form for their records.
Applications for the 2025-2026 Intercultural Leadership Program are now closed.
If you are interested in applying to the 2026-2027 Intercultural Leadership Program, please complete the interest form below to be notified when applications open.
