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Women's Leadership Development Program

 

The Women's Leadership Development Program provides emerging women leaders within the ARVO membership a highly interactive, year-long learning experience focused on leadership skill development and facilitating leadership opportunities and networking within ARVO. The program started in 2016 and hosts 9-12 participants and their mentors (men and women) each year.

Eligible participants include early- to mid-career female scientists who are in a faculty/tenure-track (or equivalent) position for not more than 10 years and who have been ARVO members for at least three years at time of application.

Senior scientist and junior scientist smiling2022 - 2023 program timeline

  • Application opens Sept. 1, 2021
  • Application closes Oct. 31, 2021
  • Applicants notified Dec. 2021
  • Program begins May 2022
  • Program concludes Apr. 2023

Program curriculum

Virtual kick-off program and orientation
Participants will meet their mentors and past participants in the program virtually in May 2022

Monthly discussion topics facilitated by guest speakers
Includes live video chats with well-known leaders in the field and supplemental web-based written discussion.

Joan O'Brien speaks into a microphoneTopics include themes such as:

  • Finding Your Strengths
  • Building and Maintaining Your Network
  • Time Management & Maximizing Your Productivity
  • Positioning Yourself Internally and Externally
  • People Management
  • ARVO Service Opportunities
  • Confidence
  • Negotiation

One-on-one guidance from a mentor
Participants meet monthly with their assigned mentors for individualized support during the program year.

Program impact

The Women's Leadership Development Program aims to prepare more women to serve in leadership roles within ARVO and within their academic insititutions.

  • After participating in the program, 73% of the 2018-2019 class plans to pursue a leadership role at their institution within the next two years.
  • Of current program alumni, 62% are currently serving on an ARVO committee.

Who should apply to be a participant/mentee?

Two young women listening to a presentationEarly- to mid-career female scientists who are:

  • In a faculty/tenure-track or equivalent position for not more than 10 years
  • Have been ARVO members for at least three (3) cumulative years at time of application, and who will maintain active membership throughout the program 
  • Interested in future leadership positions within ARVO
  • Eager and able to commit to active participation in the program, including:
    • Attending a virtual kick off and orientation program to be scheduled for May 2022
    • Monthly or more frequent interactions with her assigned mentor
    • Engaging and collaborating with program class and program alumni via topical discussions in a dedicated ARVOConnect community
    • Requesting their institution's support of the $100 program fee

Program fee for particpants:
To help support the operating costs of the program, mentee participants’ home institutions are expected to support their faculty with a $100 participation fee.

A brief letter of support from the mentee’s department chair, or other appropriate institutional representative will be requested within the application form that acknowledges the program fee and mentee’s participation in the program.

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Who should apply to be a mentor?

Any ARVO member (men and women) who:

  • Have been an active ARVO member for at least five (5) past consecutive years who will maintain active membership throughout the program
  • Have served in ARVO volunteer/leadership roles, such as committee, or editorial board service
  • Want to help develop future ARVO leaders with the goal of gender parity in ARVO leadership
  • Can commit to attending a virtual kick off and orientation program to be scheduled for May 2022

There is no cost to apply to be a volunteer mentor.

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Program supporters

The 2021-2022 Women's Leadership Development Program is sponsored by Aerie Pharmaceuticals through the ARVO Foundation with additional support from the Ramesh and Brenda Tripathi Vision Research Fund and funds raised at the annual Women in Eye and Vision Research (WEAVR) Luncheon.

2021-2022 Program Sponsor

Women's Leadership Development Program - supported by Aerie

With additional support from:

 funded by the Ramesh and Brenda Tripathi Vision Research Fund  

 Women's Leadership Development Program - supported by WEAVR

2020-2021 LDP Participant

"Participation in this program will provide lifetime leadership skills that extend beyond ARVO for any early career female scientist. This program was highly engaging, with discussions on important and often tough topics, coupled with individual mentorship. I feel I'm in a better place in terms of leading my lab, seeking out leadership opportunities, and forging collaborations for research than before. Loved this program!”