Leadership Academy

The Municipal Leadership Academy (MLA) is an opportunity for a select group of local government staff 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 Municipal 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 local government staff member with current or future supervisory experience for people, programs, or projects. Elected officials are not eligible.

Staff may apply to the next MLA 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 may apply again in the next round. 

There is no fee for municipal participants.

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 strengths you can share with your cohort.

Nominations & Applications Due: January 7, 2026

Spring 2026 Dates

January 30

February 6, 20, 27

March 6, 13, 19 (convention)

Any questions on the MLA program should be directed to:

Dr. Jennifer Slattery, Director of Training & Membership

jslattery@rileague.org

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