Dean’s Leadership Academy

Transformative. Grounded. Future-Facing.

The Dean’s Leadership Academy (DLA) is more than a program; it is a leadership revolution. Rooted in ethical purpose and social innovation, the Academy transforms students into collaborative, courageous, and creative leaders who are ready to make a difference in their communities and professions. By combining academic rigor with immersive real-world experiences, the DLA equips students with the capacities to lead authentically in an increasingly complex and interconnected world.

What Distinguishes the DLA

• Mindfulness-Driven Leadership: Grounded in self-awareness and presence, mindfulness is embedded throughout the program, with activities such as journaling, guided meditations and reflective leadership practices.
• Experiential Immersion: Through simulations with the community, corporate, and military organizations, policy forums, cultural site visits, and leadership summits, students build practical skills while expanding their worldviews.
• Integrated Learning: A future 3-credit academic course aligns with eight experiential learning sessions, creating a powerful learning arc.
• Ethics Meets Innovation: The DLA prepares students to lead with empathy and drive systemic transformation, from social work and criminal justice spaces to nonprofit leadership, public service, and policy innovation. DLA extends beyond the status quo to create value for our amazing communities.
• Peer Mentorship & Long-Term Impact: Graduates of the Academy become mentors for future cohorts, reinforcing community and leadership continuity.

Your DLA Journey

Academic Leadership Course

An interdisciplinary leadership course that explores systems thinking, values-based decision-making, strategic innovation, and the actions that will help you shape change for our dynamic world.

Experiential Learning Opportunities

Hands-on opportunities include:

• Strategy sessions with corporate executives and military leaders
• Community-based service projects
• Team development with high-profile organizations, such as the U.S. Army Golden Knights and the Boca Raton Museum of Art
• Executive-in-Residence mentoring with civic and industry leaders
• Guest speaker events with national change agents and FAU alumni

Peer Mentorship

After graduation from the DLA, students can apply to become peer mentors, helping to shape future leaders while deepening their own impact.

Your Strategic Priorities

The DLA prepares students across three core priorities:

1. Promote Ethical Leadership & Social Responsibility: Develop resilience, empathy, and civic commitment grounded in social responsibility and community responsiveness.
2. Enhance Communication & Collaboration: Strengthen your voice, listen actively, resolve conflict, and build collaborative teams and communities.
3. Cultivate Strategic Thinking & Decision-Making: Learn to think holistically, use evidence-based data, and create innovative solutions for tomorrow’s most pressing challenges.

The Selection Process

Tapped. Interviewed. Selected.

The Dean’s Leadership Academy is intentionally small, a cohort of 20 extraordinary students each year. Students are nominated through a “tapping” process by faculty or staff and invited to interview with the DLA Selection Committee.

We are looking for:

• A drive to serve and make an impact
• Potential for growth and curiosity driven
• A commitment to ethics, collaboration, and courage
• Resilience and positivity through adversity

The Vanguards

Each year, the DLA cohort is made up of 20 extraordinary student scholars known as The Vanguards. These dynamic students embody the Academy’s core values of purpose, resilience, and service. These students are tapped into their potential, their impact, and their ability to lead change. As Vanguards, they lead from the front, serving as ambassadors of ethical and innovative leadership, shaping transformative change across campus and in the community.

The Work Has Begun.

The Dean’s Leadership Academy is now underway, cultivating leaders prepared to shape meaningful change.

Have questions, ideas, or would like to learn more about the Academy’s vision? Contact Dr. Tony Andenoro, Program Chair, at tandenoro@fau.edu.