The Emerging Leaders Institute (ELI) is an innovative program that was designed by EOA leaders who recognized the need to strengthen the association by developing potential leaders. Initiated in 1989 by Dr. Celerstine Johnson, the program’s purpose was to identify and prepare EOA members to assume leadership positions at the chapter and regional levels, to help those individuals grow personally and professionally, and to strengthen the Association.

Emerging Leaders Institute focus:

• ELI will receive training in history, leadership development, and team building related to college access and success.

• ELI will gain a deeper understanding of the organizational aspects of EOA.

• ELI will be assigned to an EOA committee for engagement throughout the year.

• ELI will focus on college access and success program improvement, advocacy and institutional engagement/growth.

• ELI will engage and work on projects that will enhance their own careers and programs/institutions to which they belong. The projects will focus on sustainable change, critical race theory/pedagogy to instill systematic and systemic changes in equity, transformational theories on educational equity, and innovative models to motivate college access and success.

• ELI will develop leadership and team-building capacities.

NOTE: A participant fee of $100.00 has been established for the 2026-2027 cohort. The participant fee will be due, in full, 30 days following the notification of selection. This fee will be paid by the ELI participant. Some chapters may offer to pay this fee, please check with your Chapter for details.

APPLY NOW

The deadline for submission of ELI 2027 applications is May 31, 2026.

Form to be opened on May 7th, 2026 for the 26-27 cohort!

Link to 2026-2027 ELI application: https://forms.gle/DmYYRouvUesBseQF8

ELI Trainers for the 26-27 cohort: Melanie Olivera-Jones and Mattie Payne-Mallory

Please contact the EOA Professional Development committee at professional-development@eoa.org with questions.