The Grace E. Harris Leadership Institute promotes the development of current and emerging leaders in Virginia state and local government, academic institutions, public, private and nonprofit organizations, and communities of the Commonwealth.
Professional Development Programs
GEHLI offers an integrated series of professional development programs that develop critical skills at the supervisory, management, senior leadership, and local levels. Our competency-based curricula utilize proven practices and are delivered by engaging, highly experienced professionals.
Download GEHLI Programs at a glance (PDF)
Supporting the Next Generation of Leaders
Consistent with the mission of Virginia Commonwealth University, the Institute is committed to identifying and nurturing the next generation of leaders through leadership training and public policy research.
The Grace E. Harris Leadership Institute has many years of experience supporting leaders as they learn more about themselves to develop their leadership skills. GEHLI bridges personal and professional leadership development by stressing that the improvement of leadership skills, behaviors, competencies, and practices require knowledge acquisition, professional skill development, and feedback.
Our Mission
The Grace E. Harris Leadership Institute promotes the development of current and emerging leaders in Virginia state and local government, academic institutions, public, private and nonprofit organizations, and communities of the Commonwealth. Consistent with the mission of VCU, the institute is committed to identifying and nurturing the next generation of leaders through leadership training.
Our Vision
The Grace E. Harris Leadership Institute will be recognized throughout the region as the premier provider of leadership development programs for:
- Adherence to the principles of leadership exhibited by Grace E. Harris, Ph.D., based on collaboration and instituting leadership — envisioning a brighter future
- Creating a learning environment, building collaborative partnerships, and strengthening the commitment to results
- Commitment to long-term relationships with clients and participants
- Promotion of action-oriented transformational leadership
A pioneering 48-year career
Grace E. Harris, Ph.D. (1933-2018) helped shape Virginia Commonwealth University during a pioneering 48-year career at the university. She joined the social work faculty at Richmond Professional Institute in 1967, a year before the school merged with the Medical College of Virginia to form VCU, and she would prove to be an integral part of the university’s foundation and growth in the ensuing decades.