EXCEL Leadership Academy

EXCEL Academy Director

"It is truly an honor to lead the EXCEL Leadership Academy and witness our participants embark on this transformative journey. Watching them build leadership skills and forge meaningful relationships across our colleges and district services is both inspiring and rewarding. I look forward to seeing their growth throughout the program."

-- Dr. Lisa Schenitzki, EXCEL Academy Director

lschenitzki@saddleback.edu

Opportunity for Career Growth

The EXCEL Academy is a semester-long retreat and workshop series, sponsored by the District, and open to full-time and part-time Classified Staff, Faculty, and Managers.  EXCEL provides an opportunity for leaders across the District to work with each other in an effort to forward the vision and mission of the District by working more effectively together as a leadership team.

“Here in SOCCCD, we believe in collaboration and building teams of aspiring leaders who support each other on their development journey,” said Dr. Cindy Vyskocil, SOCCCD Vice Chancellor of Human Resources.

Activities

EXCEL Leadership Academy participants meet throughout the semester as a group for three or more hours, in addition to a kick-off retreat where they will address topics related to communication, team dynamics, personal/professional growth, and overall leadership style.

Topics will include, but are not limited to, the following: 

· Assessing our own strengths

· Institutional dynamics and culture

· Leadership through a DEIA lens

· Organizational Health

· Institutional Effectiveness and Accountability

· Participatory Governance

· Being a leader in one’s current role

Join the Academy!

The program is open to a diverse group of classified staff, managers, and faculty from District Services, Irvine Valley College, and Saddleback College. Ideal candidates for the EXCEL program will have a willingness to be leaders that will inspire greatness throughout the South Orange County Community College District. Spots are limited for this opportunity, and we aim to have equal participation from Staff, Faculty, and Administrators. The program will reopen for applicants in the Fall.

Please note that participants are expected to commit to attending all events and workshops, which include the following:

• The overnight, offsite retreat
• Afternoon/Late Afternoon workshops during the semester
• The capstone event in May

Class of 2025 (3rd cohort)

2025 Schedule of Workshops

Click to view a PDF of the 2025 schedule