NEW:The 2011-2012 NLI Fellows will graduate in April. The 2012-2013 Fellows will be announced soon.

Noyce Leadership Institute

Program Overview

The Noyce Leadership Institute (NLI) develops and hones the leadership talents of executives in science centers, children’s museums, and related institutions. NLI is committed to expanding the impact of these organizations in their communities by increasing the capacity of their leaders to manage change, focus outward, engage peers, and form key partnerships. Skilled, forward-looking leaders are essential if our world is to have thriving, high-impact, publicly relevant hubs for informal science education and learning for all ages. In the end, these vital hubs are where youth are encouraged to choose careers in science or at least reduce their fears of math and technical fields, and where adults are helped to understand the crucial role science plays in their everyday lives and decision making.

Annually, 18-20 executives are selected globally as Noyce Leadership Fellows to participate in a year-long, intensive program of professional development and personal growth. Using “action learning” principles, NLI’s concepts, tools, and resources are coordinated closely to ensure immediate applications of the learning in the Fellow's work environment. Throughout the program year, Fellows bring real-life issues into the program – seeking insights and solutions from interaction with faculty, executive coaches, other program advisors, and their peers. NLI provides leaders with access to knowledge, alternative approaches, promising practices, and professional networks to sustain and advance innovation in their own institutions and in the field.

Three residential retreats provide opportunities for Fellows to meet leading experts in leadership, strategy, governance, organizational change, nonprofit management, and fundraising. Before and between retreats, Fellows exchange information and ideas with faculty, peers, and executive coaches through audio conferences, telephone calls, and a private website. The program also includes direct contact with “leaders in residence”, accomplished executives from science centers and related fields who attend portions of on-site retreats and participate in audio-conferences as content experts. The cohort design and the learning from peers are central to the program. During the program year, Fellows meet monthly in small groups (“peer application groups”) via audio conference to share insights into the strategic issues they face and to form a community with a high level of collegiality, confidentiality and trust.

In addition, each Fellow chooses and works on a major “strategic initiative.” A strategic initiative is essential work that an institution desires to undertake to address a current challenge and/or extend its reach and impact in its community or region. This initiative also serves as a focal point for applying new knowledge and leadership skills that Fellows hone via the program. Ideally, the strategic initiative is a seed for growing deeper connections between the institution and its local community in ways that yield greater public impact and contribute to the institutions relevance and sustainability. A strategic initiative can be work already under way or targeted as high-priority going forward. Strategic initiatives do not have to be completed within the program year, but Fellows are expected to make significant progress during this time.

2012-2013 Noyce Leadership Fellows

CLICK HERE to access application materials for the 2012-2013 cohort of Noyce Leadership Fellows. We will offer two informational conference calls. Please contact NLI Associate Director Jennifer Zoffel at jzoffel@gmail.com for dial in details.

November 16, 2011 - 12:00-1:00pm US Eastern time - Program Overview
December 13, 2011 - 12:00-1:00pm US Eastern time - Strategic Initiative Clinic

For inquiries or a personal consultation, please contact Jennifer Zoffel or to reach one of our Field Representatives, please click her/his name below:

International - Colin Johnson

North America - Bill Booth or Marilyn Hoyt

Application Timeline
Fall 2011	Application inquiries/Applications open
November 16, 2011 @ 12:00pm EST	Audio Conference: Program Overview Email jzoffel@gmail.com to RSVP
December 2, 2011	Intent to apply due
December 13, 2011 @ 12:00pm EST	Audio Conference: Strategic Initiaive Clinic Email jzoffel@gmail.com to RSVP
January 9, 2012	Completed applications due
	Applicants will be notified on receipt of completed applications
February 10, 2012	Applicants notified of their status