AIM Leadership Collective

The AIM Leadership Collective is an extended leadership development experience open to faculty and staff currently in or aspiring to leadership roles. It is designed to cultivate foundational leadership capabilities and explore and grow diverse leadership perspectives. Each cohort lasts throughout an academic year, and through a blend of interactive, day-long sessions, mentorship, and intentional exploration of diverse perspectives, participants will deepen their leadership effectiveness and broaden their impact across the university.

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What You’ll Gain

Participants in the AIM Leadership Collective can expect to:

Strengthen core leadership skills such as communication, strategic thinking, and decision-making
Build a cross-campus network of peers and institutional leaders
Gain exposure to diverse leadership perspectives and experiences
Increase confidence navigating the university environment
Apply learning in real-time through collaboration and peer engagement

Program Experience

The AIM Leadership Collective includes a variety of structured and informal learning opportunities:

Monthly, full-day interactive leadership sessions
Assigned readings and independent learning between sessions
Peer-to-peer learning and group collaboration
A one-on-one mentoring relationship with a campus leader
Informal gatherings to build community within the cohort

Time Commitment

Participants should plan for:

Sessions, readings, and meetings over the course of an academic year
One full day per month for in-person sessions
Additional time for readings, reflection, and group collaboration
Periodic meetings with mentors and cohort peers

Who Should Apply

The program is open to faculty and staff who:

Demonstrate interest in growing as leaders
Are currently serving in leadership roles or aspire to do so
Value collaboration, learning, and engaging diverse perspectives
Are committed to fully participating in the cohort experience

Testimonials

Hannah King

AIM was an excellent program. Specifically, the Social Styles assessment uniquely impactful, as was the opportunity to hear from executive leaders across campus. I appreciate Baylor creating space for this intentional leadership development initiative.

Armon Bakhtiari

In Admissions we’re drilled on the classic sales line, "under-promise, over-deliver". When AIM promised to bring together a diverse group of people from across Baylor, with different backgrounds, at various points in their professional journeys, all to create a meaningful, vulnerable, collaborative cohort, I had my doubts about the coming delivery. Turns out, "over-deliver" would be an understatement for what was achieved here; the truest representation of Baylor's Caring Community I've seen since I was a student years ago. The willingness of each wonderful person involved to share their unique perspective openly and with authenticity has been the part of AIM I'm most grateful for.

Marilyn Anderson Rhames, Ph.D.

The best part of AIM is that it gave me a full day each month to be seen, understood, and morally supported, all while learning how to grow as a leader. I developed meaningful relationships within my cohort, with my AIM mentor, and with several senior leaders at Baylor who have inspired me to make bold but strategic moves.

Program History

The AIM Leadership Collective was established with a clear and purposeful vision: to cultivate, equip, and elevate emerging leaders from underrepresented communities with the University’s faculty and staff. AIM – an acronym for Accelerate, Innovate, and Matriculate, - reflects the program’s foundational belief that leadership development should be intentional, strategic, and rooted in community.

The vision of the program originated through the leadership and foresight of the Black Faculty & Staff Association (BFSA), an employee resource group formally recognized in 2018 to foster connection, professional development, and belonging. As BFSA matured in its mission, its leaders recognized a growing need for structured leadership pathways and intentional environments where aspiring leaders could develop the skills, networks, and confidence necessary to advance within the institution.

In the 2021-2022 academic year, the University launched the inaugural cohort of the AIM Leadership Collective as a pilot. Designed as a cohort-based leadership experience, the program brought together staff and faculty across academic and administrative units to engage in meaningful professional development. Participants took part in workshops focused on leadership theory and practice, communication, strategic thinking, and institutional navigation. Equally important, they formed cross-campus relationships that expanded their understanding of the University and strengthened their collective impact.

Since the pilot year, the AIM Leadership Collective has been grounded by uniting employee resource groups and institutional leadership with a shared commitment to leadership development. It has grown in both visibility and impact. Each cohort has continued to build on the foundation of the first, strengthening Baylor’s leadership pipeline and contributing to a culture where diverse perspectives are valued in decision-making spaces. What began as a vision within a committed community has evolved into a sustained and strategic investment in Baylor’s future.

Become a Mentor

Interested in supporting the next generation of leaders? Faculty and staff are invited to serve as mentors for AIM participants. Complete the Mentor Interest Form to be added to our pool of potential mentors.

Mentor Interest Form