Boone County Leadership Academy
Empowering Boone County's leaders
BCDA’s Leadership Academy is an inclusive, high-impact program created for current and emerging leaders who want to grow, connect, and contribute to the future of Boone County. Whether you’re leading now or just beginning to explore your potential, this program will equip you with the skills, confidence, and community support to make a lasting impact.
The Future of Boone County Starts with you
We develop the next generation of leaders in Boone County and beyond.
From city council members to nonprofit volunteers, and everything in between, we help connect passionate individuals with the organizations and opportunities that make our communities thrive. Since launching in 2021, the Leadership Academy has empowered more than 50 current and emerging leaders to step up, serve, and make a lasting impact.
About the academy
To discover, nurture, and equip current and future leaders to confidently step into diverse leadership roles within our communities.
Together, let’s help Boone County thrive.
Over recent years, many local organizations and community groups have faced challenges in finding new leaders and volunteers to sustain their valuable work. Boone County Leadership Academy is designed to support both current leaders and emerging leaders by discovering, developing, and equipping individuals to continue strengthening and enriching our communities together.
The course consists of three interactive training sessions spread over three months, each led by an experienced leadership development professional.
Participants who complete all required sessions will graduate in May.
Throughout the program, participants will collaborate with leaders from across Boone County, deepen their understanding of leadership development, and discover their own leadership potential. They will gain practical skills that can be applied immediately in their current roles or future leadership opportunities.
The academy invites all adults living or working in Boone County and the surrounding areas to apply.
Applications for the 2026 Boone County Leadership Academy cohort will open in late 2025. To receive updates about the upcoming class and application details, please reach out to bcdaadmin@boone-county.org.
The tuition to participate in the Boone County Leadership Academy is $350.
Participants who complete the program and attend all sessions will receive a $175 reimbursement at the conclusion of the Academy.
Optional Payment Options:
Tuition Assistance: If you need financial support to participate, please include a brief letter with your application explaining your request. Tuition assistance depends on the availability of sponsorship funds.
Payment Plan: If needed, a payment plan is an option. Please contact Brandi or Dani to arrange a payment schedule.
Employer/Organization Sponsorship: If your employer or an organization you’re affiliated with would like to sponsor your tuition, please have them complete the sponsorship section in the application and return it along with your application.
Meet the leaders behind the Emerging leaders Academy
Molly Brummond
curriculum leader
Molly is a 2003 graduate of Nebraska Law. After several years in private practice, Brummond returned to the College of Law in 2010 and, since that time, has served the College in various roles dealing with alumni relations, student life, and communications.
She is one of the principal developers of the College’s Build Your Character program – a program that works to identify leadership and professional skills development opportunities for students that occur both inside and outside of the classroom.
The program has received much national attention, and Brummond has written and presented on the topic for the National Conference of Bar Examiners and NALP.
Brandi Yosten
academy Coordinator
Cultivating leadership skills of young people here in Boone County is such a crucial step in the process of promoting involvement and greater contributions of these individuals’ talents within our community through various organizations to make Boone County the best place to live, work and grow a family.
I believe that the Boone County Leadership Academy accomplishes just that.
Dani O'Brien
academy coordinator
The Boone County Leadership Academy is a great way to get young adults involved in their communities and to get out of their comfort zones. The leadership training that this program offers is unmatched and a resource all young professionals can benefit from. Watching the participants dedicate their time to bettering themselves and this community is inspiring.
I believe that the Leadership Academy is one of the best investments for young adults in Boone County.
Boone County Leadership Academy
Class of 2025
In 2025, the Emerging Leaders Academy was reformatted as the Boone County Leadership Academy. This year’s graduates gained a deep understanding of their individual leadership strengths, talents, and personal philosophy, and learned how these shape their approach to guiding and influencing others. Through hands-on workshops, they developed practical skills in impactful communication, giving and receiving feedback, public speaking, and collaborative teamwork. Participants also explored strategies for balancing family, work, and community responsibilities, creating intentional plans to invest in their personal and professional lives while fostering positive work cultures and thriving communities. By the end of the program, graduates were equipped with self-awareness, leadership tools, and practical strategies to lead effectively in diverse personal, professional, and civic roles.
2023 Program Series
Communicating with Impact
Every day, we are asked to do more with less. To do so, teams of all shapes and sizes must work effectively and efficiently together to achieve the organization’s mission and vision. Those who are successful in this endeavor undoubtedly can effectively communicate.
In this program series, Molly Brummond, assistant dean of student development at the University of Nebraska College of Law, will present workshops tied to the overall theme “Communicating with Impact.”
Emerging Leaders Academy Graduates
Class of 2022
This group selected EMT Awareness as their project. They conducted research and interviews with local fire/rescue departments and community members, to better understand the barriers preventing people from becoming an EMT.
They used this information to create marketing materials and a resource page that local departments can utilize to recruit new EMTs. These resources will also be useful for those looking to become an EMT, as all the necessary information they need is readily available and organized by community on the project webpage.
Class of 2021
At the beginning of their Academy, the participants heard from local leaders that worked closely on the St. Edward Community Center project so the group could gain an understanding of how to begin and execute a community project.
This group’s project was to introduce the Bambino app to Boone County parents and babysitters. Upon graduation, the Academy has recruited 96 parents, 45 babysitters, and has had 10 completed bookings!
Graduate Reviews
Hear from past participants
Thank you to our Partners
These sponsors help to make leadership training accessible in Boone County.
HISTORY OF THE EMERGING LEADERS/Boone County Leadership Academy
In 2015, BCDA set out to revitalize the county’s young professionals group, formerly known as Boone County Young Leaders. With the arrival of a new Executive Director, Michelle Olson, BCDA tasked her with leading the effort as Chair of the group. A committee was formed, and under new leadership, the group underwent a rebrand, emerging as Boone County Emerging Leaders. A strategic plan was developed to secure funding and elevate the group to its next phase of growth and impact.