Leadership Development Institute

WACAC’s Leadership Development Institute (LDI) is designed to develop emerging leaders within our secondary and post-secondary counseling communities. Post-secondary participants must serve in a middle management position (4+ years of experience preferred). Secondary school participants should have experience in school-based counseling (4+ years of experience preferred) and aspire to serve as director or department lead in counseling. Participants are paired with a mentor that supports them throughout the LDI program. The expectation is that LDI graduates will commit to serving in a future leadership role within WACAC.

We are thrilled to host LDI from February 28 to March 1, 2025 in Menlo Park, California. Many thanks to the Menlo School for hosting our group! Participant Nominations are now open. Nominations are also being accepted for Mentors. Both are due January 24.

What The Program Covers:

  • WACAC covers the cost of the two-day program
  • Flights to and from LDI within the current Fiscal Policy
  • Double-occupancy hotel room. Single-occupancy hotel room at an additional cost to participants.
  • WACAC and NACAC conference registration fees

If you have any questions, please contact Elena Wong at elena.wong@menloschool.org or wacacpd@wacac.org.

Class of 2023

Mentees

Allison Bly, Carondelet High School
Elissa Couch, Pahrump Valley High School
Emilia Flores, Sequoia High School
David Girvan, Pitzer College
Erin Kim, Granada Hill Charter
Chuck Liddard, Rolling Hills Prep
Duanduan Heish, Occidental College
Kelly Pjesky, OSU (Regional)
Chris O’Sullivan, University of Iowa (Regional)
Serey Teleke, UCLA

Mentors

Amy Kruger, Oaks Christian School
Rebecca Munda, Athenian School
Sonia Ryan, Justin-Siena School
Linh Snyder, Malibu High School
Chris White, High Tech High
Jim Bonner, University of San Diego
Ed Devine, Xavier University
Becky Konowicz, Santa Clara
Ashley Pallie, CalTech
Robert Penman, UCDavis

Class of 2020

Mentees

Robin Hamilton, Occidental College
Amanda Hottinger, Texas Christian University (regional)
Stefan Montouth, UC Berkeley
Jon Rice, University of San Francisco
Yaneli Ruiz, Claremont McKenna College
Brittany Slaughter, Elon University (regional)
Jai Ulrich, Whittier College
Connie Wu, UC Los Angeles

Mentors

Cuca Acosta, UC Santa Barbara
Raissa Diamante, Harvey Mudd College
Becky Chassin, University of Southern California
Brian O’Rourke, Mt. St. Mary’s University
Adam Sapp, Pomona College
Corinne Schell, Marist College
Carin Smith, DePaul University
Belinda Sandoval, University of Redlands