The Institute for Leadership Advancement's (ILA) alumni leadership development program, Leadership Dawgs, is offered exclusively to UGA alumni.

Leadership Dawgs is a one-year commitment bookended by two in-person meetings alternating between Atlanta and Athens, on the following dates: 

Meeting 1: February 28- March 1, 2025 (Business Learning Community - UGA campus - in Athens) 

Meeting 2: February 20 - February 21, 2026 (Terry Executive Education Center in Buckhead)

Leadership Dawgs is a leadership development program that teaches personal and professional leadership and is available only to UGA alumni (undergrad or graduate program). The program challenges UGA alums to unlock their potential to:

• Maximize their leadership capacity
• Optimize their team's performance
• Cultivate a diverse professional network
• Create impact in the state of Georgia 

At the end of the first-weekend meeting, the students–Leadership Dawgs–having identified their strengths, values, and motivations, then work in teams to execute a six-month Community Impact Project (CIP) aimed at supporting the needs of a Georgia-based nonprofit. Through this community engagement, Leadership Dawgs begin their journey to create an impact in their communities.

To wrap up the program, Leadership Dawgs return to attend content sessions and share the outcomes of their CIPs. A panel of Leadership Dawgs faculty evaluates the CIPs and identifies the top three teams who will share in prize money up to $10,000.

The ideal Leadership Dawg candidate is: 

• A UGA graduate (undergrad OR graduate program) 
• Eager to actively engage in self-guided and group-based leadership development 
• Conscientious, dependable 
• Collaborative, team-oriented

Meeting 1: 2025 - Friday, February 28th (all day) and Saturday, March 1st (8:00 am - 1:30 pm) 

Meeting 2: 2026 - Friday, February 20th (all day) and Saturday, February 21st (8:00 am - 1:30 pm)

Upon completion of the curriculum and attending both meetings, attendees will be awarded a Professional Certificate in Personal and Organizational Leadership.