Developing Leadership Skills as an SAA Chapter Advisor: The LEAP Series Can Help!

By Sarah McAlexander, AuD

As SAA chapter advisors, it can be hard to figure out how to best lead and mentor the students in your university’s programs. SAA chapters may experience their own successes and setbacks; therefore, it is critical that their leaders and advisors guide them, set them back on track, and provide meaningful feedback on projects or problems. Unfortunately, it can be hard to find relevant and meaningful professional development offerings targeting the leadership skills needed to be an engaged and thoughtful chapter advisor. That’s where the Academy’s new Leadership Excellence in Audiology Professionals (LEAP) Series steps in: to help you make your next big “LEAP” forward in building up practical leadership skills to use as a chapter advisor and beyond.

The LEAP Series is specifically beneficial for chapter advisors, as it is designed to benefit audiologists. It is a collaboration developed by the Academy’s Professional Development Council, the American Board of Audiology (ABA), and the Tulane University Leadership Institute. The Tulane University Leadership Institute, directed by Kim Fleming, offers leadership programs, professional development assessments, and evidence-based coaching. By combining Tulane University’s expertise in leadership development with AAA’s expertise on the unique perspectives and experiences of audiology clinicians, faculty, and researchers, the Academy is able to offer a unique program that cannot be found in any other professional development or leadership development course.

The LEAP Series will offer six (6) interactive modules targeting core subjects in leadership development, including foundations of leadership, emotional intelligence, effective communication, strategic decision making, team development and leadership, and organizational change. The sessions will be offered both on demand and live to ensure you can fit them into your busy schedule, and will feature small-group discussions, panels with audiology leaders, and additional resources to support your personal growth.

How can LEAP specifically benefit your work as an SAA Chapter Advisor? First, participating in the LEAP Series will help you grow as a leader, enabling you to guide students through change, challenges, decision-making, and project development. In addition, participating in the LEAP Series will empower you to help your students develop leadership skills that will serve them well as they continue into their audiology careers.

For more information on the LEAP Series or to sign up, visit the ABA’s website. You can also check out this Audiology Today article about the LEAP Series, or listen to a discussion on LEAP and leadership development with Samantha Ramirez, AuD, chair of the Professional Development Council, on the Academy’s podcast, Science Meets the Sound Booth (July 9, 2026).

As an advisor myself, I know I am excited about the growth offered to me through the LEAP Series – I hope to see you in the future modules, too!