Apply for the 2026 Cohort

Cleveland State University’s new Leadership & Innovation Fellows for Transformation (LIFT) program is an opportunity for faculty and staff to explore how they can create the conditions for positive change by learning about and practicing leadership and innovation. Through this program, Fellows will expand their capacity to drive innovation in their respective fields and across the institution.

Presented by The Beth E. Mooney for Transformative Leadership and the Weston Ideation Lab, the LIFT program is an eight-month intensive, highly-focused opportunity for up to 12 Fellows, combining engagement with internal and external leaders and innovation theory research with opportunities to practice what is learned in the higher education environment. An external field trip will connect Fellows to best practices and showcase innovation. Download our flyer here (new flyer to link). 

Program components include: 

• Mentorship: Pairing teams with experienced leaders for guidance
• Workshops and Seminars: Deep dives into topics like leadership styles, collaboration, change management, innovation, lean problem solving and design thinking through the higher education lens
• Field Trip: Opportunities to connect with peers with industry and community leaders who are showcasing best practices in innovation and leadership for the organizations they serve
• Leadership in Action Project: Participants design and implement an innovation project, presenting their results in the final session

Attendance Requirements:

Participants are expected to attend all sessions and be present while the group is in session. We encourage 100% attendance but recognize this may not always be possible. Schedule conflicts must be communicated in advance.  

Application and Cost:

The program, valued at $7,500 per participant, is being offered to CSU faculty and professional staff at the introductory rate of $2,600. This is made possible by the generosity of the funders of The Beth E. Mooney Center for Transformative Leadership and the Weston Ideation Lab. Further, the University administration is supporting the Fellows cohort by making the program eligible for professional development funds as an employee benefit. This effectively brings the cost to the participant to zero.

The application consists of eight open-ended questions relating to your leadership journey. You will also be asked to provide your contact information, a link to your CSU online profile and upload a copy of your resume, CV or professional bio.

Apply for the 2026 LIFT cohort by Nov. 15, 2025 here!

Schedule of Programs (2026):

January 23 - Launch Party

February 27

March 27

April 24

May 15

August 21

September 25

October 16

October 23   TEDxClevelandStateUniversity