UC Davis Executive Leadership Program

11-week Online Program | April 2 - June 12, 2026 | Live sessions: Thursday afternoons: 2:00–6:00 p.m. & Friday mornings: 9:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m.

Apply for Consideration

The California State Library, California Library Association, and CALL team are inviting applications for 10 fully-funded seats for California library leaders to participate in the spring 2026 UC Davis Executive Leadership Program. This intensive 11-week online program, running April--June, 2026, supports experienced leaders in strengthening their strategic thinking, communication, and organizational leadership skills. Applications are due February 4, 2026.

Eligibility

Eligible applicants include California library directors, assistant/associate directors, and other library workers currently in leadership positions. If you have questions about whether your role qualifies, please email Madeline Walton-Hadlock, Senior Project Coordinator for Training at mwaltonhadlock@cla-net.org.

Program Schedule

This cohort will run April 2 – June 12, 2026. Participants will attend 10 live sessions over 11 weeks, meeting:

• Thursday afternoons: 2:00–6:00 p.m.
• Friday mornings: 9:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m.

Additional small-group networking meetings will also be required. Participants should expect to spend 2–3 hours per week on coursework and group work outside of scheduled class time. Please note that session rescheduling or make-up options are not available.

Participants who successfully complete the program will receive a UC Davis Executive Leadership Certificate.

What You'll Learn

• How to to develop and implement strategic plans, make data-driven decisions and navigate complex business challenges effectively
• Clear and persuasive communication to foster collaboration and resolve conflicts efficiently
• How to manage change initiatives and adapt to evolving market conditions
• Strong financial acumen and analytical skills to interpret financial data, optimize resources and contribute to the organization's financial health
• Leadership presence to influence, collaborate and lead across various sectors

Post-Program Requirement

Shortly after the course concludes, all CALL-funded participants will be expected to collaboratively design and deliver a webinar sharing key takeaways from the program. This webinar will be hosted through California Libraries Learn (CALL) so that learning may be shared statewide.

Application Timeline

• Applications Due: Feb. 4, 2026 by 11:59am
• Notifications Sent: by Feb. 11, 2026. Note: accepted participants must fill out a short UC Davis program application by Feb. 20.
• Program Begins: April 2, 2026

Should we receive more applications than available places, several factors will be considered when determining which applicants are invited to participate in 2026. These factors include the responses to the application questions below, as well as consideration of Local Income Per Capita (LIPC) and the CA Poverty Measure (CPM).

This training is offered by the California Library Association and the California State Library, and is supported in whole or in part by the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act, administered in California by the State Librarian.

Track: Leadership