Call for Applications: The Ram Leadership Collaborative

April 29, 2025

Dear Colleagues,

I am pleased to invite applications for the inaugural cohort of the Ram Leadership Collaborative, a professional development program designed to identify and cultivate emerging leaders within our CSU community. Administered and led by Dr. Kimberly Miloch, Chief of Staff and Associate Vice Provost for Organizational Leadership and Academic Strategy in the Office of the Provost and Executive Vice President, and in collaboration with Talent Development in Human Resources, the Ram Leadership Collaborative will introduce faculty and staff to the joys and complexities of leadership, identify emerging leaders within our CSU community, and cultivate a collaborative community of practice among leaders across the university.

Program Overview: The Ram Leadership Collaborative introduces faculty and staff to the complexities of leadership while building a pipeline of visionary leaders who understand and embody our land-grant mission of education, service, extension, and research. The program is specifically designed for those who aspire to serve in leadership roles at the manager, director, department head/chair level or higher.

Program Benefits:

  • Customized professional leadership development training
  • Comprehensive knowledge of CSU operations
  • Career mapping, networking, and goal-setting
  • Leadership assessments including Five Paths of Leadership and Clifton Strengths
  • Group coaching and mentorship opportunities

Time Commitment: The program includes one orientation (June 2, 2025 from 2-3 p.m. ), attendance at a CSU Board of Governors meeting, and eight sessions from September 2025 through April 2026. All sessions will be conducted on Fridays with full attendance expected.

Application Process:

  • Deadline: Monday, May 12, 2025
  • Submit applications to: [email protected]
  • Include one letter of support from your unit head or department chair

I look forward to receiving your application and welcoming our first cohort to this exciting leadership initiative.

Apply for the Ram Leadership Collaborative

Sincerely,
Marion

Marion K. Underwood, Ph.D.
Provost and Executive Vice President

 


Addendum

Purpose:

Administered and led by Dr. Kimberly Miloch, Chief of Staff and Associate Vice Provost for Organizational Leadership and Academic Strategy in the Office of the Provost and Executive Vice President, and in collaboration with Talent Development, the Ram Leadership Collaborative will introduce faculty and staff to the joys and complexities of leadership, identify emerging leaders within our CSU community, and cultivate a collaborative community of practice among leaders across the university. It builds a pipeline of visionary leaders who understand and embody the pillars of our land-grant mission of education, service, extension, and research.

The Collaborative is specifically intended to identify and develop faculty and staff who aspire to serve in leadership roles at the manager, director, department head/chair roles (or higher) across CSU. Cohort membership is for one-year, with the option for a second year which engages participants in a hands-on project with a mentor.

In Year 1:

Guided by Talent Development’s Four Themes of self-discovery, people-centric skills, team effectiveness, and systems thinking, participants will engage in personal leadership development through a variety of assessments; learn strategies for forming and leading strong teams; gain a deeply comprehensive understanding of CSU operations; and engage in robust discussions on what it means to lead at a land-grant research university.

The program includes one orientation, attendance at a CSU Board of Governors meeting, and eight (8) sessions beginning in September 2025 and ending in April 2026. All sessions will be conducted on Fridays, and with exception for emergency situations, participants are expected to be in attendance for all sessions as noted below.

Table 1. RAM Leadership Collaborative 2025-26 Session Dates

The Provost and Executive Vice President invites applications for the inaugural cohort of the Ram Leadership Collaborative.


Spring 2025

June 2
2-3 p.m. 
Teams


Fall 2025

September 5, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
Lunch provided

September 26, 1 p.m.-5 p.m.

October 9-10
Board of Governors of the CSU System*
Fort Collins

October 24, 1 p.m.-5 p.m.

November 14, 1 p.m.-5 p.m.


Spring 2026

January 23, 1 p.m.-5 p.m.

February 13, 1 p.m.-5 p.m.

March 27, 1 p.m.-5 p.m.

April 24, 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
Lunch provided

*BOG meeting in Fort Collins; Participants may attend any morning or afternoon session over the course of the two days.

In Spring 2026, participants may elect to continue in the Collaborative for a second year. The second year will also require completion of an administrative leadership project.

Benefits of participation

  • Customized professional leadership development training
  • Comprehensive knowledge of CSU operations and the state of higher education in Colorado
  • Career mapping, networking, values-assessment, and goal-setting
  • Identification of leadership style, strengths, and opportunities for growth
  • Completion of the Five Paths of Leadership Assessment and Clifton Strengths
  • Group Coaching
  • Mentorship

The Ram Leadership Collaborative, Our Mission, and RoadMap 2035

Administered by the Office of the Provost and Executive Vice President, the Ram Leadership Collaborative serves multiple essential purposes.

Core Mission Advancement

To develop leaders across the university who deeply understand and can advance our land-grant mission of teaching, research, service, and extension/outreach throughout all communities in Colorado.

Leadership Development

To provide structured development and mentorship that prepares participants for higher leadership at the manager, director, department chair/head level or above and build collaborative leadership skills necessary for addressing complex institutional and community challenges.

Institutional Transformation

To create a community of practice that fosters innovation in addressing the university’s strategic priorities while enhancing institutional resilience through succession planning and leadership continuity.

Community Connection

To prepare leaders who can strengthen relationships between our land-grant mission and Colorado’s rural, urban, and mountain communities.

Through this Collaborative, we aim to ensure that our land grant university continues to serve as a catalyst for progress, excellence, innovation, and positive change throughout Colorado, while preparing the next generation of institutional leaders who understand our distinctive mission and place in the state’s educational landscape.