The 2025 Warner-Reynolds Leadership Academy: Breaking Barriers, Building Futures

Friday, June 13th, 2025 from 8:30am – 4:30pm
Location: David Rubenstein Forum (1201 E. 60th St.)
Register Now!

This year’s theme is Breaking Barriers, Building Futures.
We will explore strategies to build more inclusive workplaces and drive personal and professional advancement. The academy is open to all, so join us for a day-long leadership institute focused on developing leadership skills, authentic networking, and defining your own success.

This year’s keynote will be delivered by Dr. Amy Diehl, author of Glass Walls: Shattering the Six Gender Bias Barriers Still Holding Women Back at Work. The program also features dynamic sessions on assertive communication, business acumen, leadership styles, and narrative medicine, led by:

Dr. Candice Norcott, Assoc. Prof, Psych & Behavioral Neuroscience
Bess Wildman, Vice Dean for Finance and Administration
Susan Popa, Assistant VP, Leadership & Org Development
Kathryn West, Director of Communications, Section of Hem/Onc

The Warner-Reynolds Leadership Academy is sponsored by the Office of Diversity & Inclusion and the BSD Women’s Committee. Questions about the Academy can be directed to the Office of Diversity & Inclusion at: diversityoffice@bsd.uchicago.edu.

About the Warner-Reynolds Leadership Academy

In an effort to support the professional development and growth of faculty as leaders, the Office of Diversity and Inclusion hosts the day-long Warner-Reynolds Leadership Academy that welcomes 50 participants annually. Open to all in our community, the academy brings together people from across the Biological Sciences Division, including mid-career faculty, staff, trainees, and students from an array of backgrounds. The academy helps foster a robust network for faculty and trainees preparing to enter the biomedical research workforce. The academy also provides a vibrant and conducive space for learning, professional development, collaboration, and crucial conversations to enhance leadership skills. Participants engage throughout the day with a keynote speaker who is a national leader and expert, breakout sessions to develop leadership skills, and roundtables with UChicago, BSD, and UChicago Medicine staff and faculty leaders.

Warner-Reynolds Leadership Academy is funded by a generous gift from Pritzker alum, Nancy Warner, MD. (SSB’44, MD’49) and Christine Reynolds.

Previous Speakers

Linda E. Ginzel, PhD
Michelle L. Buck, PhD
Emily Lansana, MA
Chelsea Vail
Barrett Fromme, MD, MHPE
Julianne Sitch
Odette Harris, MD, MPH
Deborah Burnet, MD
Benajmin Reese, PhD
Brenda Ellington Booth, PhD

Previous Workshop Snapshot

Mentoring to Advance Faculty in Science and Medicine
Telling Your Leadership Story
Designing Your Courageous Life
Receiving Feedback, and How to Make It Useful
Choosing Leadership
Forming Successful Intra and Cross Disciplinary Partnerships and Projects