The James H. McDonald Leadership Endowment program funds leadership development programming at the SfAA Annual Meetings and throughout the calendar year. Directed primarily toward mid-career professionals and SfAA leadership, the funds support training and skill building for SfAA members seeking a greater impact in the field. The fellowship is designed to rotate programming targeted at three principal cohorts: Applied Scholars, Anthropology Departments (Department Leaders), and Practitioners. We will address one cohort of five participants per year based on a clearly defined theme.

Cohort theme, 2027-2028: “Anthropologist Practitioners as Invitational Leaders”

Facilitator: Dr. Heather Schacht Reisinger has spent her career in the Department of Veterans Affairs and in academic medicine as a student of leadership development, developing her own leadership skills, and supporting leadership development among her colleagues.

This $3,000 fellowship will be awarded to five select participants.

Program Abstract

Anthropologists bring many strengths to leadership that could be summarized as invitational—an invitation to inclusivity and ensuring multiple perspectives are at the table, an invitation to big-picture thinking, and an invitation to remain in complexity when discussing challenges and coming up with solutions. These strengths are apparent among practicing anthropologists who manage their own consulting firms, hold top-level positions in governmental agencies, and lead nonprofit organizations. At the same time, all of these leaders needed to develop other leadership skills to propel their careers and organizations forward.

Through the James McDonald SfAA Leadership Development Program Practitioner Fellowship, practitioners will have the opportunity to hone their leadership skills and develop skills to support career growth and opportunities. Central to the fellowship will be engaging in year-long projects designed by the practitioners. The projects will support the strategic priorities of the practitioners’ organizations, be scoped for success, and designed to place the fellows in front of key leaders.

As a small learning community, fellows will support one another in planning, implementing, evaluating, and disseminating their projects. In addition, fellows will engage in a series of workshops on:

  1. the value of self-awareness and inclusivity
  2. finances and strategic decision-making
  3. managing conflict and difficult conversations
  4. leading change
  5. sharing leadership successes and lessons learned

Upon conclusion of the year-long program, fellows will have developed their own invitation into leadership, a deeper understanding of their organization and its strategic priorities, and skills and resources to strengthen their leadership.

This program will be of interest to practitioners in a wide range of organizations from nonprofits to government agencies who currently have leadership roles or are exploring whether they want to take on leadership in the next phase of their career.

Cohorts attend the SfAA Annual Meeting for their initial workshop, participate in three virtual sessions throughout the following year, and reconvene at the Annual Meeting for a culminating event.

#1: First, Self-Awareness (March 2027; in person at the SfAA Annual Meeting)

#2: Finances and Strategic Decision Making (June 2027; virtual)

#3: Managing Conflict and Difficult Conversations (Sept. 2027; virtual)

#4: Leading Change (Dec. 2027; virtual)

#5: Preparing and Sharing Your Leadership Stories (March 2028; in person at the SfAA Annual Meeting; Fellows will plan an SfAA session and present the results of their yearlong projects)

After completing the program, members of the immediate past cohort serve as mentors for the succeeding cohort.

This program is designed for mid-career anthropologist practitioners in leadership roles or aspiring to leadership in practice and who wish to advance the future of anthropology in practice in the public, private, or nonprofit sectors. A current SfAA membership is required.

Each application should include:

  • Full CV
  • Statement describing why you would like to participate in this leadership fellowship. In your answer, include a statement about leadership priorities for your personal career and/or current organization, previous professional and leadership development training, and readiness for expanded leadership roles. (500 words or less)
  • SfAA membership: Ensure confirmation of current SfAA membership.

The President of SfAA will appoint a three-person committee to review submissions and make recommendations to the Board of Directors.

Send application materials to: info@appliedanthro.org

Submission deadline: December 15

James H. McDonald