EXCEL Leadership Academy

Opportunity

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

Current Cohort

The 2nd EXCEL cohort has been selected and they have already hit the ground running with a successful retreat. EXCEL is a leadership development program open to classified staff, managers, and faculty across the district. Participants meet weekly about various topics including communication, team dynamics, personal/professional growth, and overall leadership styles.

Vice Chancellor Cindy Vyskocil and her team have led this effort and are proud to train the next cohort of leaders, that includes:

Congratulations to all the participants and I hope to join you soon at a future session.

Past Cohort

The first year of the program was 2023 and featured speakers from within the district, throughout the region, and across the state including, but not limited to, former California Community Colleges Chancellor Eloy Oakley, North Orange County Community College District Chancellor Byron Breland, and SOCCCD’s Chancellor Julianna Barnes.

“The EXCEL Leadership Academy was successful in its first year because of the dedicated people who helped organize a meaningful and engaging series of professional development opportunities, such as Vice Chancellor Vyskocil and her team, but also because of the participants of the program who are committed to excellence for themselves and for the students we serve. The passion amongst these leaders to learn, know, and give the best is evident. I can not wait to see what they will do next with the knowledge gained from this program,” said SOCCCD Chancellor, Dr. Julianna Barnes.

View photos from the first EXCEL cohort

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