The Grace E. Harris Leadership Institute within the L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs is proud to recognize the Spring 2025 graduates of the Commonwealth Leadership Academy (CLA). This third cohort of 28 senior executives from Virginia’s state agencies has just completed an intensive six-week program designed to sharpen their leadership and management skills to address some of the Commonwealth’s most urgent challenges.
Sponsored by Governor Glenn Youngkin, in collaboration with the Department of Human Resource Management (DHRM) and the Wilder School’s Grace E. Harris Leadership Institute, the CLA empowers agency leaders with skills to plan strategically, transform culture, drive innovation, and lead public servants through change in alignment with the Governor’s strategic priorities.
“The Commonwealth Leadership Academy represents Virginia’s commitment to cultivating transformative leaders who not only excel within their agencies, but also collaborate to make government more efficient, effective, and impactful,” said Robyn McDougle, PhD, Associate Dean of Research and Outreach at the VCU Wilder School. “We are immensely proud of the accomplishments of this year’s cohort.”
Spring 2025 program highlights
Participants immersed themselves in a rigorous curriculum that included strategic planning, cultural transformation, innovation in government, and change management. Through hands-on activities, guest speaker presentations, robust discussions, and peer collaboration, participants honed their leadership skills to navigate complex challenges and drive results more effectively. Key initiatives tackled by this year’s teams included:
- Connecting Veterans to Their Future: Connecting Virginia’s Veterans to the Opportunities, Resources, and Bright Future Provided Through the Virginia Veterans Network (VVN)
- Accelerate Virginia: Leveraging Virginia’s Excellent Education System to Identify, Recruit, and Retain Top Talent in Public Service in State Government
- Commonwealth Communities of Practice - Building Bridges by Breaking Down Silos: Enhancing Cross-Agency Collaboration to Improve Service Delivery and Operational Efficiency in Virginia State Government
- Commonwealth Of Virginia Employee Onboarding: Strengthening Employee Onboarding Practices Across State Agencies
- Growing Virginia’s Economy Through Agri-Innovation: Expanding Virginia’s Finest & Virginia Grown Programs as an Incubator for Small Business Growth
Transformative outcomes
Working in cross-agency teams, participants provided real-world, scalable solutions to some of the Commonwealth’s greatest opportunities and pressing challenges. These collaborative efforts reflected the cohort’s strong commitment to enhancing government services and driving meaningful change across the Commonwealth.
The graduation ceremony, held on May 14, honored the accomplishments of these outstanding leaders. In attendance were agency leaders, senior officials, and members of Governor Youngkin’s team, including Secretary Margaret “Lyn” McDermid and Secretary Aimee Rogstad Guidera. Inspiring remarks from Susan Gooden, dean of the L. Douglas Wilder School of Government and Public Affairs and L. Douglas Wilder, 66th Governor of Virginia, highlighted the critical role of leadership excellence in advancing the importance and value of public service.
As graduates return to their agencies, they carry forward sharpened skills, bold strategies, and a shared commitment to improving outcomes for all Virginians, continuing the legacy of the Commonwealth Leadership Academy as a catalyst for impactful governance.
Congratulations to the Spring 2025 Commonwealth Leadership Academy Cohort!
For more information about the Commonwealth Leadership Academy and its mission to develop high-performing public service leaders, visit Grace E. Harris Leadership Institute.
