Nominations

Nominating a colleague for the Presidential Leadership Fellows Program is an act of human
investment—in your colleague, your unit, and William & Mary’s leadership pipeline. Do you have a
high-performing team member who exhibits high potential, demonstrates curiosity, and has a strong
desire to bolster their leadership skills? Nominations open July 27 and close August 11, 2026. This
guide outlines what that investment requires and how supervisors can prepare their units and
nominees for a successful experience.

Understand the Time Commitment

PLF is a 36-week cohort experience requiring approximately 100 hours of engagement.

Core Program Commitments

• Weekly cohort sessions, independent reading and reflection, and a 12-week cross-unit placement
  often occur simultaneously.
• During the first three weeks, fellows’ complete leadership self-assessments asynchronously; these may be completed outside normal work hours.
• From October 5 through December 4, fellows will be enrolled asynchronously in the Modern
  Leaders course.

Leadership Exposure Requirements

• Each fellow must meet with three senior leaders between November 5 and January 22.
• Each fellow must also attend one ELT meeting, one Cabinet meeting, and one Board of Visitors
  meeting.

Cross-Unit Placement and Peak Periods

• Beginning in January, fellows will be assigned to an academic or administrative unit for a 12-week
  experiential cross-training opportunity and university project.
• Placement schedules are not yet known and will be developed in coordination with the host
  supervisor. Please plan for flexibility and allow approximately 2–3 hours per week.
• Peak periods—when cohort sessions, placement responsibilities, and capstone preparation
  overlap—are especially intensive and may vary from week to week.
• A planning estimate of approximately four hours per week is reasonable, but supervisors should
  expect variability. Weekly cohort sessions will be held from 12:00–1:30 p.m. on Tuesdays and
  Thursdays, and additional flexibility may be needed

Plan for Backfill Before You Nominate

Before submitting a nomination, identify how your unit will maintain service delivery during high demand periods. Name the specific people who will absorb key responsibilities, clarify what work
may need to shift or pause, and confirm that the arrangement is realistic

Eligibility

• Nominees must have worked at W&M for a minimum of 12 months. 
• Nominees should show an intense desire to learn and explore innovative ideas, but naturally inquisitive
• Nominees should have at least 3-5 years of leadership experience. 
• Nominees should be a high performer consistently showing exceptional and innovative work during the last performance review.

If you have questions or require additional information, please contact Chon Glover at wfglov@wm.edu or (757) 221-7940.

Submit A Nomination