Public Executive Leadership Academy
July 11-16 and August 2-6, 2027 | Chapel Hill | Application fee: $5,400
Applications for the 2027 leadership experience is currently closed.
Public Executive Leadership Academy (PELA) is our premier leadership experience at the School of Government for government professionals. We have been serving over two decades of excellence in Public Executive Leadership.
PELA provides municipal and county managers, assistant/deputy managers, and department directors the opportunity to learn more about themselves as leaders and to gain skills to lead and manage change in their communities. Participants will learn skills in facilitation, media relations, and emotional resiliency. They will better understand their leadership approach and how it affects their interaction with stakeholders, staff, and elected officials. They will choose a "real world“ project that integrates lessons from PELA for leading regional, community, or organizational change and develop a plan for carrying it out through peer consultation. Participants will also work on a personal leadership development plan that will incorporate feedback from faculty, peers, and a leadership self-assessment.
PROGRAM APPLICATION REQUIREMENTS
- Must have a minimum of seven years of supervisory experience in local government, at least five of which must have been as a municipal or county manager (CAO), assistant/deputy manager, or department director.
- A “Letter of Support” from your manager or supervisor must accompany your online application.
PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS
- PELA is an immersive residential program where participants are together for the length of the program. Hotel accommodations are provided as part of the tuition cost, and participants must stay with the group at the hotel, regardless of whether they are local. There are significant benefits to this experience. If you have any questions about this policy, please contact Kim Nelson.
- Participants must attend all sessions and events, including some evening events. Full participation is needed for participants to get the most out of this experience. A sample agenda can be found under the materials tab.
- Completion of all advance assignments before the course. Your program manager will share more details about materials and pre-work.
Members of Civic Federal Credit Union (Civic) are eligible to apply for a scholarship towards registration fees for programs offered by the School of Government. There are four deadlines to submit applications:
- March 1: for programs starting between April 1 and June 30
- June 1: for programs starting between July 1 and September 30
- September 1: for programs starting between October 1 and December 31
- December 1: for programs starting between January 1 and March 31
Additional information
ADDITIONAL SCHOLARSHIP INFORMATION
Scholarships are available for NCCCMA members.
The 2027 NCCCMA Scholarship Application wil be available soon. Once completed, scholarship applications must be submitted to Patrick Niland, NCCCMA professional development committee chair, patrick.niland@unioncountync.gov
**The scholarship application deadline is TBD. We strongly encourage you to apply for the scholarship at the same time you apply for PELA. While acceptance into PELA and access to scholarship funds are not guaranteed, applying early ensures you will be considered for financial support if needed.
Visit the Public Executive Leadership Academy home page for scholarship information, faculty lists, and alumni.
Lesly Vasquez
