Please browse the upcoming programs below and register with your email address.
As a Presidential Member of Shafer Leadership Academy, BSU employees can attend unlimited Academy Programs for FREE. These leadership workshops are designed to enhance your leadership and improve your skill set. Registration is required. Indicate that you are a member to bypass payment.
Have any questions? Contact Ted Ward, Membership Director at tward@shaferleadership.com.
♦ In-Person Programs | ♦ Virtual Programs
Upcoming Workshops:
June
Event Details
Let’s make presenting easier—and way more fun! Making presentations doesn’t have to be stressful or time-consuming—it can actually be fun and easy! In this interactive 90-minute session, we’ll explore how to
Event Details
Let’s make presenting easier—and way more fun!
Making presentations doesn’t have to be stressful or time-consuming—it can actually be fun and easy! In this interactive 90-minute session, we’ll explore how to use Canva to create beautiful, engaging presentations—without the frustration of clunky design tools or endless formatting. By the end, you’ll have a simple, joyful approach to designing presentations that feel as good to make as they do to deliver.
Learning Objectives
🎨 Use Canva’s ready-made templates to save time and spark creativity
✨ Add personality and polish with images, animations, and branding
💡 Keep your slides clear, compelling, and visually balanced
🚀 Build confidence in your design skills (even if you don’t consider yourself “creative”)
Cost: Free for SLA Members. $50 non-member. $30 nonprofits.
Individuals who are either unemployed or connected with an employer who is unable to pay can request scholarships for any of our programs.
About Our Facilitator
Sanovia Garrett is a versatile Music and Movement Artist from Muncie, Indiana, based in Philadelphia. She blends gospel, hip-hop, R&B, soul, and neo-soul, drawing inspiration from artists like Lauryn Hill and Jill Scott. A Ball State University graduate with a B.A. in Communication Studies and a Leadership minor, she later earned an M.A. in Urban Studies (Community Arts) from Eastern University. In 2019, she joined the Indiana Arts Commission’s On-Ramp Creative Entrepreneur Accelerator, enhancing her entrepreneurial and community engagement skills. From 2021 to 2024, she served as Social Media and Communications Manager at Palmer Theological Seminary and Program Director for Girls Rock Philly. In 2023, she graduated from the Power Up Your Business Program at Community College of Philadelphia. Her initiative, “Come Move with Me,” offers inclusive, judgment-free movement sessions on a “Pay What You Wish” basis, promoting accessibility and self-expression for all. Sanovia’s discography includes the EP You Have Everything You Need (2020) and singles like “Sway” (2020) and “I Really Love You” (2024). In 2023, she received the John Lewis Award from Color of Change PAC Philadelphia for her contributions to the arts and community. Her mission is to inspire joy, self-discovery, and creativity through music, movement, and communication.
Time
June 3, 2025 8:00 am - 9:30 am
Event Details
“Facilitation is the act of engaging participants in creating, discovering, and applying learning insights.” (ATD) Facilitation is more than leading a discussion—it’s about creating an environment where participants feel engaged, heard,
Event Details
“Facilitation is the act of engaging participants in creating, discovering, and applying learning insights.” (ATD)
Facilitation is more than leading a discussion—it’s about creating an environment where participants feel engaged, heard, and motivated to explore new ideas. In this interactive session, participants will learn the fundamentals of inclusive facilitation, including how to establish a welcoming space, encourage participation, manage group dynamics and create interactive learning activities. Together we will build a facilitation toolkit, discover facilitation tools, and work towards building confidence in the art of facilitation. This part 1 of our Facilitation Skills Series. Part 2 will be offered in quarter three about virtual facilitation skills. NOTE- this workshop will last 2 hours instead of 90 mins and lunch will be served.
Learning Objectives
- Understand the role of a facilitator in creating engaging & inclusive learning environments.
- Learn techniques to foster participation, curiosity, and discussion- utilizing active listening, presence, and adaptability skills.
- Understand how to navigate group dynamics through discussion & practice in small groups.
- Learn about facilitation opportunities with Shafer Leadership!
About Our Facilitator
Eilis (A-lish) Wasserman is the Program Director at Shafer Leadership Academy focused on overseeing impactful leadership development programming and creating innovative opportunities for Shafer members. She has a background as a career coach and facilitator, dedicated to cultivating confidence and inspiring self-discovery. She is an introvert and early career professional advocate, empowering introverts to hone their unique strengths and develop their own career stories. Eilis believes the most valuable skill that you can learn, and practice is the art of connecting- it’s all about telling our story. Eilis is a freelance coach on The Muse and has worked as a career coach with Ball State University and the University of Michigan. Eilis looks forward to working with you to present your best self wherever you may be in your career journey.
Time
June 5, 2025 11:30 am - 1:30 pm
Event Details
A Different Kind of TEAM: Time, Energy and Attention Management for Leadership Success Virtual 2-Part Series Session #1: Wednesday, June 11th 2:00 PM – 3:30 PM Session #2: Thursday, June 12th 2:00 PM
Event Details
A Different Kind of TEAM: Time, Energy and Attention Management for Leadership Success
Virtual 2-Part Series
Session #1:
Wednesday, June 11th
2:00 PM – 3:30 PM
Session #2:
Thursday, June 12th
2:00 PM – 3:30 PM
The first secret: time cannot be managed. It is a thing that exists, like gravity. But our relationship to time can and should be managed. Our ability to manage this relationship, along with our own energy and attention, is the key to long-term success in leadership. The bad news is that it’s another thing to worry about as a leader. The good news is that worrying about it makes everything else less of a worry. Attendees will come away with a list of practical actions they can start using immediately – and share with their colleagues and teams at work. They will have a discussion in breakout rooms about how similar actions have worked well, or not worked well, in their own experience. Lastly, participants will develop and take home a map of their personal energy levels, across their responsibilities and days of the week. For the workshop, Alan will draw on his ideas from more than two decades of experience as a leader, executive coach and facilitator – along with the experiences of his hundreds of clients to date.
Learning Objectives
- Learn about 20 practical actions to change one’s relationship with time, energy and attention so you can start utilizing and sharing with colleagues right away
- Engage in discussion with fellow attendees about how similar actions have worked well, or not worked well, in your own experience
- Develop a map of your personal energy levels, across your responsibilities and across the days of the week.
Cost: Free for SLA Members. $250 non-member. $200 nonprofits.
Individuals who are either unemployed or connected with an employer who is unable to pay can request scholarships for any of our programs.
About Our Facilitator
Alan Heymann has served as an executive coach to hundreds of his fellow introverts, helping them feel seen and heard, to find balance in their lives and to unleash their superpowers in an extroverted world. Alan also specializes in coaching through career and leadership transitions. He brings a warm, open and energetic presence to his coaching and facilitation clients and speaking engagements. His clients to date were born in 32 countries and work on 4 continents. They have spanned corporations (including the Fortune 50), nonprofit organizations, public utilities, federal, county and municipal governments. The author of two books on leadership analogies: Don’t Just Have the Soup, and Embrace Your Inner Peaches, Alan is a member of the faculty of the Georgetown University Institute for Transformational Leadership. He spent more than two decades in public, government and nonprofit communications — leading teams from 2 to more than 100 people. Inspired by a career transformation he brought about with the support of an executive coach, Alan founded Peaceful Direction in April 2019. Alan is a member of the Barker Adoption Foundation Board of Trustees. He’s followed a plant-based diet since 2002, enjoys running half-marathons and lives with his family outside Washington, DC.
Time
June 11, 2025 2:00 pm - June 12, 2025 3:30 pm
2025tue17jun12:00 pmtue1:00 pmOff the Shelf- UnFunk YourselfVIRTUAL DISCUSSION12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
Event Details
Read a book. Lead with inspiration. SLA in partnership with Muncie Public Library is offering a unique quarterly gathering, highlighting important take-aways
Event Details
Read a book. Lead with inspiration.
SLA in partnership with Muncie Public Library is offering a unique quarterly gathering, highlighting important take-aways from inspirational leadership books. At each event, facilitators will share key leadership development lessons from leadership-focused books. This is not a book club, rather a guided discussion around the key takeaways from each book.
Prior reading of the book is not required but we encourage participants to share about what they learned and check-out one of the books from Muncie Public Library. All participants attending will be entered in a raffle to win a digital copy of one of the books discussed.
All sessions are FREE and open to the public thanks to our sponsor, eKeeper. Registration is required.
Up Next:
UnFunk Yourself: Leading Mindfully in the Midst of Mayhem
discussion facilitated the author herself!: Emily Morash
Time
June 17, 2025 12:00 pm - 1:00 pm
Event Details
What does it truly mean to be an inclusive leader? Is it about welcoming diverse perspectives, fostering collaboration, or creating spaces where everyone feels valued? The answer is all of the
Event Details
What does it truly mean to be an inclusive leader?
Is it about welcoming diverse perspectives, fostering collaboration, or creating spaces where everyone feels valued? The answer is all of the above—and more. This interactive roundtable discussion invites emerging and experienced leaders to explore the meaning and impact of inclusive leadership development in their own leadership journeys.
Rather than focusing on prescriptive solutions, this session will encourage open dialogue, shared experiences, and thought-provoking questions that challenge us to reflect on how we lead. Together, we will examine how inclusivity shapes leadership, how to foster meaningful engagement, and what it takes to create environments where all voices are valued.
NOTE: This is a FREE Community Event. All are welcome to attend; registration is required for lunch.
Discussion Topics may include
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- What does it mean to actively welcome diverse perspectives?
- How can collaboration create more inclusive decision-making?
- What challenges do leaders face in implementing inclusivity, and how can we navigate them?
About Our Facilitator
Bobby D. Steele, Ed.D. is the Director of the Center for Student Connections and Opportunity at Bowling Green State University (BGSU). Bobby earned a bachelor’s in business and marketing from BGSU, a master’s degree in student affairs administration from Michigan State University (MSU), and a doctorate in higher education from Ball State University (BSU) with a research focus on cultural capital and non-deficit approaches in supporting Black first-generation college students. Bobby has worked in various functional areas within higher education including residence life and identity-based resource centers. Prior to his current role, Bobby was an assistant clinical professor of higher education at BSU.
Time
June 26, 2025 11:30 am - 1:00 pm
July
Event Details
How can you navigate a world of rapid change? In a world where rapid change and uncertainty are the norm, leaders often struggle to make decisions and develop strategies. This can
Event Details
How can you navigate a world of rapid change?
In a world where rapid change and uncertainty are the norm, leaders often struggle to make decisions and develop strategies. This can lead to vulnerability to unforeseen challenges and missed opportunities. While predicting the future is impossible, leaders can use strategic foresight to strengthen resilience and uncover opportunities for enhanced performance. This session introduces participants to the basics of strategic foresight and equips them with practical tools to systematically explore and learn from possible futures. Participants will discover how to integrate strategic foresight into their organizations to build futures capability. Through interactive exercises, participants will encounter and practice various aspects of strategic foresight, preparing them to apply the techniques to real-world challenges and opportunities.
Learning Objectives
1. Understand Strategic Foresight: Participants will be able to describe the purpose of strategic foresight and the different phases of the frameworks discussed.
2. Apply Strategic Foresight: Participants will be able to explain how strategic foresight could be applied within their organizations to strengthen resilience and create future-focused strategies.
3. Resources for Growth: Participants will be able to identify resources to continue learning about strategic foresight.
Cost: Free for SLA Members. $50 non-member. $30 nonprofits.
Individuals who are either unemployed or connected with an employer who is unable to pay can request scholarships for any of our programs.
About Our Facilitator
Chris Mayer is a strategist, philosopher, futurist, and career Army officer with extensive experience in leading organizational change and developing leaders. Currently, he serves as Director of Philosophy in the Department of Law & Philosophy at the United States Military Academy (West Point) and has also held positions as Department Head of English & Philosophy and Associate Dean for Strategy and Initiatives. He is also founder and principal consultant at Futures Empowered. As a future of work and higher education advisor for the Quality Assurance Commons, he works with colleges and universities to prepare learners for the workforce of tomorrow. A former Association of Professional Futurists Emerging Fellow, Chris holds a Ph.D. from the University of Virginia. You can explore his insights on leader development and strategic foresight at: https://futuresempowered.com/insights/. The views expressed in this session are his own and do not necessarily reflect the official reflect the official policy or position of the United States Military Academy, Department of the Army, DoD, or U.S. Government.
Time
July 10, 2025 8:00 am - 9:30 am
Event Details
Practicing Positivity Positivity is a mindset, just as much or maybe even more than an emotional experience. It’s a skill that can be developed. And because our emotions and attitudes are
Event Details
Practicing Positivity
Positivity is a mindset, just as much or maybe even more than an emotional experience. It’s a skill that can be developed. And because our emotions and attitudes are contagious, it’s important that everyone take time to practice and develop these skills.
Practicing positivity is more than feeling good and being nice. It means being able to see what is working, to celebrate success, to offer up encouragement, and to do all of this in the face of an honest assessment of the challenges individuals and organizations are facing.
Learning Objectives
- Understand the difference between positive feelings and a mindset of positivity
- Explore ways to expand your vocabulary around positive mindsets
- Break down the negativity bias and the impact self-protection plays in limiting positive emotions and experiences
- Build a practical plan for authentic positivity that impacts your work, relationships, and stress management
Cost: Free for SLA Members. $80 non-member. $60 nonprofits.
Individuals who are either unemployed or connected with an employer who is unable to pay can request scholarships for any of our programs.
About Our Facilitator
Adam Bouse founded Optimistic Coaching to help people overcome challenges, navigate emotions, and live with greater intentionality. He’s an International Coaching Federation-certified coach with more than 15 years of leadership experience and over 1000 hours of coaching experience. With training in emotional intelligence and brain-based coaching, Adam empowers clients to achieve their goals while fostering greater resilience and satisfaction. Optimistic Coaching specializes in coaching and training for emotional intelligence, empathy, difficult conversations, mindfulness, resilience, and, of course, optimism.
Time
July 15, 2025 11:30 am - 1:00 pm
Event Details
Discover the sales skills you didn’t know you already had. Virtual 2-Part Series Session #1: Wednesday, July 23 2:00 PM – 3:30 PM Session #2: Thursday, July 24 2:00 PM – 3:30 PM Are
Event Details
Discover the sales skills you didn’t know you already had.
Virtual 2-Part Series
Session #1:
Wednesday, July 23
2:00 PM – 3:30 PM
Session #2:
Thursday, July 24
2:00 PM – 3:30 PM
Are you looking for the edge in growing your influence in your working relationships or business results? In this two-part workshop, participants will learn more about the day-to-day behaviors they already possess and how they are similar to sales techniques. They will also learn valuable tactics for how and when to “close” – ask for a behavioral change from someone else.
Learning Objectives
- Leave with a new understanding of strengths you already had, but didn’t know about or underestimated how much it applies to sales and other persuasive communication.
- Learn specific tactics to become more persuasive, including how to lead another party to self-realization as opposed to changing their mind.
- Gain actionable techniques for closing for behavior change, as well as clues as to when is the best time to do so.
Cost: Free for SLA Members. $250 non-member. $200 nonprofits.
Individuals who are either unemployed or connected with an employer who is unable to pay can request scholarships for any of our programs.
About Our Facilitator
Matt Dickerson has enjoyed a 20-year career in sales and management that serves as the foundation of his skills for coaching and mentoring. He has worked in multiple industries with the majority of his experience in Pharmaceutical/Vaccines. During his time with a global pharmaceutical company, Matt was instrumental in developing and executing new tools for people development. He coached coaches in how to be more effective people developers and managers. He also created curriculum that supported skill growth in coaching for performance. Matt has a bachelor’s degree in political science from Purdue University and a Master’s in Business Administration from University of Indianapolis. He is recognized as a Professional Certified Coach through the International Coaching Federation (ICF). He is the former Board President for Family Promise of Greater Indy and the Immediate Past President of the Indiana Chapter of ICF.
Time
July 23, 2025 2:00 pm - July 24, 2025 3:30 pm
Event Details
Boundaries are not about pushing people away; they are about honoring yourself. Do boundaries feel harsh or foreign to you? Do you struggle to set them, unsure where to begin? Perhaps
Event Details
Boundaries are not about pushing people away; they are about honoring yourself.
Do boundaries feel harsh or foreign to you? Do you struggle to set them, unsure where to begin? Perhaps the word boundary stirs discomfort, either within yourself or in your relationships. But what if boundaries didn’t have to feel rigid or isolating? What if they could feel deeply authentic to you? Through life’s experiences—beliefs, teachings, and external pressures—we often lose sight of our own needs. Yet, we hold the power to decide who we allow into our lives, who we keep close, and who we release with love. Join me on a journey from uncertainty to clarity, from fear to empowerment. This session blends mindful movement to shift stagnant energy, personal reflection to uncover limiting patterns, and practical tools to establish and maintain boundaries that align with your truth.
Learning Objectives
- Understand the purpose and impact of authentic boundaries.
- Identify where you need boundaries in your life.
- Learn tools and techniques to set and sustain healthy boundaries.
- Cultivate self-trust and confidence in holding your boundaries.
About Our Facilitator
Nichole Linebaugh is an Empowerment Coach, 500-hour yoga teacher, and founder of Nurturing Rose Yoga and The Yoga Bin. After over a decade in corporate safety, health, and HR, she left to fully step into her purpose—guiding individuals to reduce stress, reclaim their power, and live in alignment with their true selves. With a deep passion for holistic well-being, Nichole combines mindfulness, movement, and personal empowerment to help clients set healthy boundaries, navigate life’s transitions, and break through limiting beliefs. Through yoga, breathwork, coaching, and leadership development, she provides tools to support mental, emotional, and physical well-being. At The Yoga Bin, a unique space dedicated to healing and community, Nichole offers workshops, retreats, and coaching sessions that help individuals reconnect with themselves and create lives filled with softness, grace, and purpose. She lives in Union City, IN, where she enjoys spending time with family, being in nature, and continuing her own journey of self-growth. ✨ “You are worthy of a life that feels truly aligned.” ✨
Time
July 30, 2025 8:00 am - 9:30 am
August
Event Details
When life deals you wild cards, you don’t fold- you reshuffle. At age 30, a cancer diagnosis turned Sara’s world upside down. She was shaken—but not shot down. Now,
Event Details
When life deals you wild cards, you don’t fold- you reshuffle.
At age 30, a cancer diagnosis turned Sara’s world upside down. She was shaken—but not shot down. Now, years removed from that chapter, she’s ready to reflect on the lessons that experience offered.
Unplanned Wisdom is equal parts hard truth and heartfelt encouragement—designed to remind audiences that no matter the hand you’re dealt, you always have the power to reshuffle. This session invites participants to explore what it means to live authentically and unapologetically in the face of fear, change and uncertainty. Through powerful storytelling, grounded insight and a healthy dose of humor, Sara shares lessons learned from the most unexpected path—and how they can help us all better navigate whatever hand life deals us.
Learning Objectives
- Identify mindset shifts that can turn life’s challenges into opportunities for growth, clarity and resilience.
- Apply practical tools for navigating uncertainty with greater confidence and self-compassion.
- Recognize the power of authenticity and humor in facing adversity.
Cost: Free for SLA Members. $50 non-member. $30 nonprofits.
Individuals who are either unemployed or connected with an employer who is unable to pay can request scholarships for any of our programs.
About Our Facilitator
Sara McInerney Hauck is on a mission to encourage others to face fear while living an authentically unapologetic life. She’s a two-time TEDx speaker, self-published author and previous podcast host. Sara works as a communications consultant living in Indianapolis with her husband and dog and is a Ball State University graduate.
Time
August 7, 2025 8:00 am - 9:30 am
Event Details
In-person Lunch & Learn Many leaders report that communication among their team members is strained by unspoken disagreements. This session will explore a dignity and empathy-based approach to help our teams
Event Details
In-person Lunch & Learn
Many leaders report that communication among their team members is strained by unspoken disagreements. This session will explore a dignity and empathy-based approach to help our teams leverage their different perspectives as a way to support and enrich our workplaces and communities. Participants will learn ways to disagree with dignity and break the “cycle of contempt” that prevents teams from coming together productively.
Learning Objectives
- Gain greater familiarity with the “Dignity Index” as a tool for collaboration.
- Be able to identify ways to bring greater dignity to the discourse of their organization and community.
- Practice the application of the dignity and empathy model with real world scenarios.
- Reflect on the “cycles of contempt” that negatively impact their workplace and community collaborations.
About Our Facilitator
Melinda Messineo, PhD is a professor of Sociology and the Distinguished Faculty Fellow for Inclusive Excellence and Community Engagement at Ball State University. She is a nationally recognized award-winning teacher and workshop facilitator. Her research explores representations of individuals in the media and the impact that all media forms have on our understanding of people different from ourselves.
Time
August 14, 2025 11:30 am - 1:00 pm
Event Details
Virtual 2-Part Series Session #1: Wednesday, August 27th 2:00 PM – 3:30 PM EST Session #2: Thursday, August 28th 2:00 PM – 3:30 PM EST This workshop provides an opportunity for leaders to
Event Details
Virtual 2-Part Series
Session #1:
Wednesday, August 27th
2:00 PM – 3:30 PM EST
Session #2:
Thursday, August 28th
2:00 PM – 3:30 PM EST
This workshop provides an opportunity for leaders to learn & practice giving and receiving different types of feedback, keeping in mind the intersection of various inclusion concepts. We utilize the SBI model, elaborating on nuances for positive, negative, and collaborative feedback and we cover concepts such as bias, power, microaggressions, and system. The majority of this session is spent in breakouts, practicing with real life scenarios.
Learning Objectives
- Deploy the SBI model with nuances for different contexts.
- Increase your confidence in delivering positive, corrective, and collaborative feedback.
- Articulate the ways that their feedback will contribute to an inclusive work environment.
Cost: Free for SLA Members. $250 non-member. $200 nonprofits.
Individuals who are either unemployed or connected with an employer who is unable to pay can request scholarships for any of our programs.
About Our Facilitator
Lillian Forsyth is an accomplished coach and workshop facilitator specializing in communication, leadership, and diversity, equity, and inclusion. With a background in Operations and Human Resources across both for-profit and nonprofit sectors, Lillian brings a unique perspective shaped by her extensive experience living and working internationally. As a straight white woman, she has dedicated over 20 years to examining her own privileges and biases, critically engaging with the complex role that white women have historically played in justice and equity movements. Lillian is the Co-Founder and CEO of Lead with Equity, where she partners with organizations to foster inclusive cultures. Her work has impacted audiences at prominent corporate entities like Google, Santander US Bank, and RWJBarnabas Health. She has also presented at respected academic institutions, including the University of Chicago Booth School of Business and Barnard College. As a guest on podcasts such as Embrace the Pivot and Agency for Change, and a speaker at conferences like the American Society of Project Management Professionals, Lillian shares insights to support meaningful change in leadership and DEI practices.
Time
August 27, 2025 2:00 pm - August 28, 2025 3:30 pm