Management Development Program - February 2027

Early Bird Member

$975

Early Bird Nonmember

$1300

Member

$1075

Nonmember

$1435

Registration Details

Event Date	Event Time	Registration Deadline	Registration
February 9 - March 4, 2027	1:30 pm - 3:00 pm	February 4, 2027	Coming Soon

Lead Your Team with Greater Confidence

Don't navigate management challenges alone, join us for this fully virtual MDP offering!

Leading and managing in international education comes with unique challenges—but also incredible opportunities to create meaningful impact. Whether you’re stepping into a management role for the first time or seeking to refine your leadership approach, the NAFSA Management Development Program (MDP) gives you practical tools to lead people, navigate change, manage performance, and advocate for your program. MDP combines real-world application, experienced peer trainers, and a cohort of fellow managers who understand the challenges you face.

Cultivate a leadership style that inspires trust and motivation
Strengthen your ability to manage change and drive results
Navigate organizational complexities with agility
Gain insights into balancing strategic goals with day-to-day management

MDP trainers are your peers with deep expertise in management and international education. This interactive experience ensures you leave with practical insights and a clear roadmap for success. Through collaboration with fellow participants, you'll build a lasting community of peers who can support you throughout your career.

Your leadership journey starts here. Take the next step, register today. Class size is limited.

February 2027 Cohort live virtual session dates (each session will take place 1:30 - 3:00 p.m. EST)

February 9, 11, 16, 18, 23, 265
March 2 and 4

Designed for Learning That Fits Into Your Work Week

MDP's virtual format combines independent learning and reflection with eight 90-minute live sessions. Between sessions, you'll have opportunities to connect what you're learning to your day-to-day management experience and return ready to discuss, apply, and build on those insights with your cohort.

Build a Supportive Community of Manager Peers

MDP gives you a community of international education managers with whom you can test ideas, work through real-world scenarios, share challenges, and learn from different approaches. The relationships you build become an ongoing source of perspective and support beyond the program.

What You'll Gain

MDP may be right for you if:

MDP Curriculum

A curriculum built around the realities of management

The curriculum is reality-based, grounded in theory but focused on application. The content leverages participants' management experiences to illustrate concepts and identify solutions. Across seven modules, you'll move from understanding the environment and culture surrounding your work to leading people, managing performance and change, building institutional support, and sustaining yourself as a manager.

Module 1: Seeing Your Program in the Larger Context

Anticipate and react to environmental factors.
Conduct an environmental scan to assess external opportunities and triggering factors.
Build capacity to manage the impact of environmental factors.

Module 2: Organizational Culture

Examine the impact of organizational culture on your IE program.
Analyze your own organization's politics.
Assess and bridge gaps in financial responsibility.

Module 3: Responsive Leadership

Adapt your leadership style to respond effectively to changing circumstances and challenges.
Support team members by better recognizing their skills, motivations, and needs.
Act with intention by engaging in honest, sometimes challenging conversations and practicing leadership in real-life scenarios.

Module 4: Performance Management

Apply a performance management model to programs and staff.
Identify opportunities to improve approaches to performance management.
Develop a personal performance plan to manage both under-performing and high-performing employees.

Module 5: Managing Change

Develop a systematic approach to managing change.
Apply model to a past or an ongoing change effort.
Determine the impact on your team.

Module 6: Increasing Support for Your Program

Align program goals to institutional goals.
Conduct a stakeholder analysis.
Improve advocacy with stakeholders and decision-makers.

Module 7: Sustaining Yourself as a Manager

Exchange insights and strategies for balancing work and life.
Generate ideas and actions to manage stress more effectively.
Review and identify the strategies and tools from MDP most likely to increase your effectiveness as an IE manager.

Closing

Create an action plan to move forward

MDP Schedule

Mon	Tues	Wed	Thurs	Fri
^{Feb 8}	^{Feb 9} Welcome and Module 1 - Seeing Your Program in the Larger Context Discussion 1:30-3:00pm ET	^{Feb 10}	^{Feb 11} Module 2 - Organizational Culture Discussion 1:30-3:00pm ET	^{Feb 12}
^Feb15	^{Feb 16} Module 3 - Responsive Leadership Discussion 1:30-3:00pm ET	^{Feb 17}	^{Feb 18} Module 4 - Performance Management Discussion 1:30-3:00pm ET	^{Feb 19}
^{Feb 22}	^{Feb 23} Module 5 - Managing Change Discussion 1:30-3:00pm ET	^{Feb 24}	^{Feb 25} Module 6 - – Increasing Support for Your Program Discussion 1:30-3:00pm ET	^{Feb 26}
^{Mar 1}	^{Mar 2} Module 7 - Sustaining Yourself and Your Team Discussion 1:30-3:00pm ET	^{Mar 3}	^{Mar 4} Final Culmination and Celebration 1:30-3:00pm ET	^{Mar 5}

Mon

Tues

Wed

Thurs

Fri

^{Feb 8}

^{Feb 9}

Welcome and Module 1 - Seeing Your Program in the Larger Context Discussion 1:30-3:00pm ET

^{Feb 10}

^{Feb 11}

Module 2 - Organizational Culture Discussion 1:30-3:00pm ET

^{Feb 12}

^Feb15

^{Feb 16}

Module 3 - Responsive Leadership Discussion 1:30-3:00pm ET

^{Feb 17}

^{Feb 18}

Module 4 - Performance Management Discussion 1:30-3:00pm ET

^{Feb 19}

^{Feb 22}

^{Feb 23}

Module 5 - Managing Change Discussion 1:30-3:00pm ET

^{Feb 24}

^{Feb 25}

Module 6 - – Increasing Support for Your Program Discussion 1:30-3:00pm ET

^{Feb 26}

^{Mar 1}

^{Mar 2}

Module 7 - Sustaining Yourself and Your Team Discussion 1:30-3:00pm ET

^{Mar 3}

^{Mar 4}

Final Culmination and Celebration 1:30-3:00pm ET

^{Mar 5}

What Participants Are Saying

“The modules enabled me not only to reflect on my approach to management, but also to expand my knowledge and skills to become a more effective manager and leader within a complex organization. I find myself revisiting the concepts, approaches, and models, particularly during periods of organizational change.”

- Shawn Conner-Rondot, Ph.D., Director of International Affairs and Outreach, University of Illinois at Chicago

Competencies

Leadership

People Development