The Future Leaders Institute

by The Erdmann Institute & The Enrollment Management Association

Future Leaders Overview

The Future Leaders program serves assistant and associate directors of admission who have a minimum of three years of experience working in an independent school in their current role.

At a time of unprecedented enrollment challenges and opportunities for independent schools, it is critical that experienced admission officers have the opportunity to expand their knowledge and enhance their skills, while having access to a forum to build their peer and professional support networks. We believe that specific attention to these future leaders is currently missing from the admission training landscape and that the enrollment health of our schools requires that we nurture and sustain them.

Future Leaders unfolds over the course of 10 months and combines both in-person and virtual learning, networking, and mentoring experiences. The program kicks off in the summer and continues through the academic year. The number of participants is capped annually at 40 to facilitate networking and discussion. All participants receive a certificate of program completion.

Three components make up the Future Leaders experience:

1. Future Leaders Institute – A two-day institute focused on knowledge development, industry trend watching, career mapping, and peer learning and support. Each participant will be assigned to a 10-person cohort group led by an experienced enrollment manager.
2. Future Leaders Cohort Program – Each cohort group has three digital engagements during the academic year, in October, January, and April. In addition, all participants will attend a culminating online meeting at the end of the academic year.
3. Future Leaders Mentorship Program – At the conclusion of the summer institute, each participant will be matched with a mentor and have the opportunity to meet in person at the EMA Annual Conference. Mentors and mentees will speak via phone or video one hour per month from September through May.

Future Leaders Cohort Leaders

Christian Donovan
Director of Admissions & Financial Aid
Head-Royce School (CA)

Barbara Eghan
Director of Enrollment Management & Financial Aid
Georgetown Day School (DC)

Quentin McDowell
Assistant Director of the Erdmann Institute
Assistant Head of School for Enrollment
Mercersburg Academy (PA)

Jill Thompson
Director of Admission
Phillips Andover (MA)