The NW Women’s Leadership Academy (NWWLA) is a program to advance women from a variety of backgrounds in local government into leadership roles. The Academy is a nine-month professional development cohort for emerging local government leaders in Oregon and Washington that provides opportunities to enhance skills and competencies, build confidence, network, and expand professional connections through career mentoring and moral support to women in local government.

The NW Women’s Leadership Academy is launching its 2021 cohort!

The NWWLA completed a successful second year program in April of 2020. Now in its third year, the Academy will build upon the successes of the first two years in order to continue offering a quality learning experience as well as more opportunities to network and expand professional connections with the addition of an overnight retreat to kick-off the program.

For the 2021 cohort, the NW Women’s Leadership Academy has accepted 21 people.  Nominations for the 2021 cohort are closed, please check in for the 2022 cohort nomination schedule next year! Contact admin@nwwla.com 

  The NWWLA 2020 Strategic Plan was developed to guide the Academy over the next five years, enhance engagement of those who support the academy, and provide a structure that will promote accountability amongst our leadership. It is also intended to serve as a communication tool to share information about who supports the academy, who it serves, and what it is.   

NWWLA 2020 Strategic Plan (1).pdf

Nomination Process

To be able to apply, participants must be nominated by their organizations. City and County Managers can nominate one or two staff members from their organization to participate in the Academy. If a jurisdiction nominates more than one person, please indicate the priority ranking between the two.

Academy participants must commit to attending all the sessions in the cohort; by submitting an application, participants and their managers agree that they have read the Leadership Academy program description, and that the participant will attend all Academy sessions and fully participate in the program. 

To nominate a participant to apply, a City/County manager can send an email to admin@nwwla.com which includes the following information on the nominee:

•         Nominee name & contact information
•        Position
•         Organization
•        Direct supervisor name and contact info

Once this information is received by the Academy, you and the nominee can expect a follow up email with application questions and directions.

Logistical considerations

Sessions will be held virtually due to COVID-19 on Fridays, with specific dates still to be determined, from January 2021 to June 2021.

Details on the Curriculum:

The 2021 cohort will benefit from sessions on a variety of topics including

• leading during a crisis
• diversity, equity and inclusion
• understanding your personal leadership strengths
• working with a governing board
• interviewing and negotiation
• process improvement

The cost for participation in the Academy is $350. This covers speakers and materials.

The NWWLA Offer's five (5) scholarships, at $100 each, to help defray the cost of lodging and tuition. Small cities will be given preference when recipients are identified by the Selection Committee.

Please contact the Leadership Team at admin@nwwla.com with any questions and thank you for supporting women in local government in advancing their careers.

2021