A Transformational Leadership Experience for University Presidents and Senior Teams
Colleges and universities today face extraordinary challenges: societal polarization, declining public trust, and the demand to prepare students for a rapidly evolving world. The CDI Leadership Institute supports a carefully selected cohort of higher education leaders committed to cultivating constructive dialogue on their campuses.
Each cohort of 10 institutions convenes for a focused 2-day retreat, followed by an extended period of peer collaboration. Throughout the experience, leadership teams hone strategies for open inquiry, dialogue across differences, and inclusive leadership practices that can transform campus culture.
Designed for Meaningful Campus Impact
Rooted in cutting-edge research and practical tools, the CDI Leadership Institute empowers senior teams to align on a clear vision for constructive dialogue and open inquiry. The Institute helps leaders develop concrete strategies to address polarization and build campus trust, while strengthening their capacity to navigate high-tension moments and complex stakeholder relationships.
Duration
2-day immersive retreat + 8-month community of practice.
Participants
University presidents, provosts, and senior leaders from diverse institutions.
Outcomes
Cohort members leave with campus-specific “blueprints,” practical skills for leading dialogue, and an ongoing network of trusted peers.
A Community of Higher Education Innovators
Past cohorts have brought together leaders from a variety of institutions, each dedicated to fostering thoughtful discourse on campus.
The Constructive Dialogue Institute has given us the tools, training, and opportunity to connect more effectively with one another, our campus, and our world. Colleges are meant to model the conditions for democracy. It's our mission to develop students who become effective global citizens. Being able to understand one another, talk to one another, and manage conflict more effectively is the empowering key to not just democracy, but peace. We need that. Our world needs that even more.
What Leaders Gain
Institutions that have taken part in the CDI Leadership Institute report the following benefits:
Clarity of Purpose: A unified sense of mission and vision around free expression and inclusion.
Practical Tools: Stakeholder mapping, conflict management, and strategic communication skills for divisive moments.
Peer Community: Access to a supportive network of like-minded leaders who share resources and best practices.
Sustained Momentum: An ongoing community of practice, ensuring that initial insights continue to inform campus initiatives throughout the academic year.
The 2025 cohort of the Constructive Dialogue Leadership Institute was made possible by a generous gift from the Templeton Religion Trust.
The 2024 cohort of the Constructive Dialogue Leadership Institute was made possible by a generous gift from the Mike and Sofia Segal Foundation.
