UMass Boston Emerging Leaders Program 2025
The University of Massachusetts Boston’s Emerging Leaders Program (ELP) recently celebrated the graduation of its 2025 cohort with its annual showcase, highlighting innovative solutions to pressing challenges across the Greater Boston region.
Now in its 20th year, the ELP brings together mid-career professionals for a year-long leadership journey that culminates in team project presentations, a graduation ceremony, and a community reception. More than 900 professionals have completed the program since its founding, each trained to lead with collaboration, trust, and respect.
“This program has become a hallmark of UMass Boston’s commitment to developing consequential leaders,” said Chancellor Marcelo Suárez-Orozco. “Our graduates embody teamwork and a deep respect for difference, qualities that are vital for change-making in our region.”
This year’s showcase featured four interdisciplinary teams whose projects tackled real-world regional needs, guided by mentors who supported experiential learning and community collaboration.
“These aren’t hypothetical exercises,” noted Tanya Barnett, director of the Center for Collaborative Leadership, which oversees the program. “Our fellows designed actionable solutions, showing courage, creativity, and collaboration. The transformation we’ve seen—both personal and collective—points toward the future of inclusive leadership.”
UMass Boston Emerging Leaders Program 2025,
