Emerging Arts Administrators Fellowship
The National Council of Arts Administrators provides several professional development opportunities, most notably the Emerging Arts Administrators Fellowship, which supports early-career leaders in the field.
Fellows receive:
- A one-year NCAA membership
- Full registration waiver for the annual conference
- A personalized mentorship pairing with an experienced NCAA member
What distinguishes this program is its emphasis on mentorship. Fellows are intentionally matched with mentors based on shared interests and career goals. This supportive relationship helps build confidence, expand networks, and offer strategic guidance for navigating arts leadership.
Fellow Testimonials:
“The fellowship paired me with a mentor whose experiences closely aligned with my goals. Regular meetings and candid conversations helped me grow professionally. The trust, collegiality, and support from the NCAA community were invaluable. I left the conference with new tools for strategic leadership and healthier work-life boundaries.”
“Being an NCAA fellow was an honor. The mentorship and broader support from the NCAA community were truly impactful. The program helped me build meaningful relationships and better understand arts institutions' operations. From informal chats to conference sessions, every experience offered insight I could apply as an arts administrator.”
"I'm grateful for my one-year Emerging Arts Administrator Fellowship. In addition to my mentor's generosity with her time during our regular one-on-one meetings and candid conversations, everyone on the board and in membership was happy to provide advice, support, and recommendations. It feels as though the committee took the time to pair us with mentors whose career paths and other experiences mirrored, to an extent, the trajectories and goals of each fellow. The specificity of this attention has been critical to my own professional development and career advancement. NCAA sets a clear and collegial expectation that all conversations are held in strict confidence, facilitating a climate of trust and goodwill that builds invaluable friendships, fellowship, and connections between and beyond institutions. The discussions over meals and on the bus are as essential as the conference sessions and workshops. Everything I learned directly applied to improving how I serve my colleagues with informed, strategic leadership and healthy work-life boundaries."
"The NCAA fellowship was incredibly timely for a recent promotion to Assistant Dean of Research and Assessment at my university. I was fortunate to be paired with Colin Blake and have appreciated his genuine willingness and transparency. During our online meetings, we discussed various topics, including finances, personnel issues, and research; the most helpful area was his guidance during a recent search. After his session on diversifying faculty searches, I was able to follow up with him on specific questions I had while chairing a committee, and his insights and suggestions were invaluable. This program is of such value, and I consider myself incredibly fortunate to have been selected and supported to participate in the mentoring as well as the conference."