Emerging Leaders Program connects faculty interested in leading programs abroad
LEXINGTON, Ky. (Oct. 28, 2025) — As part of an ongoing effort to support faculty interested in leading education abroad programs, the office of Education Abroad and Exchanges is taking applications for the Faculty-Directed Emerging Leaders program.
The program is designed for UK faculty or staff who are approved for teaching and are interested in directing an education abroad program in the future but who may have limited or no prior experience with education abroad program design or leadership.
The Emerging Leader Program is a fantastic opportunity for those interested in leading an education abroad program who have not done so before,” said Ellie Holliday, Ph.D., lecturer and director of Undergraduate Global Learning Initiatives. “Developing, running and assessing an education abroad program can sometimes come with a steep learning curve, and it requires additional skills and knowledge beyond what is typically expected for teaching a course on campus. We have incredible instructors at UK with significant depth of knowledge in their fields. Allowing them the opportunity to gain hands-on experience observing and working with an established program director will enable them to see first-hand how they can deliver their own instruction in an international setting while preparing themselves for the types of challenges and rewards that are encountered along the way. As a former education abroad program co-director myself, I know that an opportunity like this would have greatly benefited me and the students I led abroad.”
Up to five Emerging Leaders will be selected to participate in the mentorship program with an experienced UK colleague who has been a successful education abroad program director. Emerging Leaders will receive insights into all the stages of faculty-directed education abroad programming, from building on an idea, designing a high-quality curriculum, recruiting students, to traveling abroad and assessing outcomes.
Emerging Leaders will each have an opportunity to spend a week on-site with their mentor as they direct an education abroad program in Summer 2026, to experience the program firsthand.
The emerging leader program opens the door for faculty to be an even bigger part of preparing our students for success in an increasingly interconnected world,” said Christy Brady, Ph.D., an associate professor of human health sciences. “It will help demystify the process of successfully running an education abroad program, creating invaluable opportunities for our students to grow, and also serving as a fantastic professional development opportunity for faculty.”
The deadline to apply for the Faculty-Directed Emerging Leaders program is Oct. 31. Those interested in applying can visit https://ea.uky.edu/index.cfm?FuseAction=Programs.ViewProgramAngular&id=14031 to learn more.