Public Leadership Academy

The Public Leadership Academy (PLA) is an opportunity for a select group of government staff (municipal and state-level) to come together to build their leadership skills as they pertain to self, team, and community.  The cohort is limited in size to offer personalized attention and team building. 

The Leadership Academy is designed to build skills and leadership competencies for employees committed to growing in their public service careers. The ideal candidate is a government staff member with current or future supervisory experience for people, programs, or projects. 

Staff may apply to the next PLA session by filling out the application form below. Nominations are also solicited from community leaders. A committee will review the applications, request endorsement from the respective supervisor, and make selections.

Each cohort is carefully curated to create a diverse group from communities large and small, with various job functions and backgrounds. Please note that if a candidate was not selected in the round in which they applied, they should apply again in the next round. 

There is no fee for municipal participants. Those selected from state government will be invoiced a fee of $500 to assist in programmatic expenses. 

To apply, fill out the form below. You will be asked to upload a personal statement and a resume. In the personal statement, address your career path, what you hope to get out of the Leadership Academy, and any strengths you have to offer. 

Spring 2026 Dates

January 30

February 6, 20, 27

March 6, 13, 19 (convention)

Any questions on the PLA program should be directed to:

Dr. Jennifer Slattery, Director of Training & Membership

jslattery@rileague.org

401-952-7488 M * 401-272-3434 O