CRA Leadership Academy Cultivates Academic Leaders in Computing

By Matt Hazenbush, Director of Communications

On February 20-21, 2025, the Computing Research Association (CRA) hosted the 2025 CRA Leadership Academy at the Westin City Center in Washington, D.C. The event gathered a cohort of newly promoted or soon-to-be-promoted full professors from computing programs across North America for an intensive workshop designed to cultivate essential leadership skills and foster peer connections.

Exploring Leadership Opportunities

The workshop opened with a welcoming session led by program co-chairs Dennis Livesay (Michigan Technological University) and Manuel Pérez-Quiñones (University of North Carolina at Charlotte), who set the stage by encouraging participants to reflect on their personal leadership goals and the broader impact leaders have within academia and beyond.

A fireside chat featuring Jamie Payton (New Jersey Institute of Technology) explored the motivations behind pursuing leadership roles. This engaging dialogue emphasized leadership as both a responsibility and an opportunity for positive change in academia and research communities.

Essential Qualities and Paths to Leadership

Alex Wolf (University of California, Santa Cruz) and Divesh Srivastava (AT&T) headlined a panel discussion examining the many attributes that characterize effective leaders in academia, industry, and professional societies. Moderated by Rachel Pottinger (University of British Columbia), the conversation provided participants with practical insights into various leadership roles, allowing attendees to consider paths that align with their individual strengths and aspirations.

Inclusive Leadership Perspectives

An interactive session, organized by Stephanie Ludi (University of North Texas) and moderated by Bruce Childers (University of Pittsburgh), emphasized the multitude of leadership paths and roles, challenging participants to recognize their leadership potential regardless of formal titles or positions. 

Through small group discussions and guided exercises, attendees reflected on their personal leadership styles, identifying both strengths and areas for growth.

Navigating the Leadership Search Process

A special session featuring Karen McPhedran and Vijay Saraswat from the search firm Isaacson, Miller, alongside CRA Executive Director and CEO Tracy Camp, provided attendees with an inside look at the leadership recruitment process.

Moderated by Dennis Livesay, this session demystified how search firms operate, the roles and expectations of search committees, and provided valuable strategies for participants preparing for leadership roles within academia or research-focused nonprofits.

Building Empathy and Managing Conflict

Nigamanth Sridhar (Cleveland State University) shared insights in a powerful session on empathetic leadership. Drawing from his experiences managing institutional change, Sridhar highlighted strategies for approaching conflicts and difficult situations with empathy and thoughtful communication, reinforcing the critical role empathy plays in effective leadership.

360-Degree Leadership and Management

A fireside chat with Dennis Livesay emphasized the multi-dimensional nature of leadership, highlighting techniques for managing relationships and expectations vertically (with supervisors), horizontally (with peers), and downward (with team members). 

Participants learned the importance of adapting their leadership style based on organizational context and relationship dynamics.

Closing Reflections

The CRA Leadership Academy concluded with a final fireside chat featuring Bruce Childers, which synthesized key insights from the workshop sessions. This reflective session encouraged participants to apply their newly acquired skills and perspectives to their ongoing professional development and future leadership roles.

Recognizing Participants and Continuing Development

Participants who completed the CRA Leadership Academy received a certificate of participation and a digital badge recognizing their commitment to advancing their leadership skills. Participants are encouraged to add their digital badge to their online presence (e.g., LinkedIn profile). 

To build on the momentum from the in-person event, CRA will host virtual cohort webinars for Leadership Academy participants throughout spring and early summer 2025, providing ongoing opportunities for discussion, collaboration, and peer support.

The 2025 CRA Leadership Academy was organized by a dedicated program committee including co-chairs Dennis Livesay and Manuel Pérez-Quiñones, as well as Bruce Childers, Kinnis Gosha, Jim Kurose, Stephanie Ludi, Dimitrios Nikolopoulos, and Rachel Pottinger.

CRA extends its gratitude to all participants, speakers, and organizers for contributing to a successful and inspiring event designed to empower the next generation of academic leaders in computing.