{"id":19161,"date":"2025-12-11T10:45:21","date_gmt":"2025-12-11T15:45:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/?p=19161"},"modified":"2026-04-14T10:15:59","modified_gmt":"2026-04-14T14:15:59","slug":"aspire-leadership-program-launches-at-wilmu","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/2025\/12\/11\/aspire-leadership-program-launches-at-wilmu\/","title":{"rendered":"ASPIRE Leadership Program Launches at WilmU With First Cohort Completion"},"content":{"rendered":"<style>.kadence-column19161_9986b3-10 > .kt-inside-inner-col{padding-right:var(--global-kb-spacing-lg, 3rem);padding-bottom:var(--global-kb-spacing-lg, 3rem);padding-left:var(--global-kb-spacing-lg, 3rem);}.kadence-column19161_9986b3-10 > .kt-inside-inner-col,.kadence-column19161_9986b3-10 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{border-top-left-radius:0px;border-top-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-right-radius:0px;border-bottom-left-radius:0px;}.kadence-column19161_9986b3-10 > .kt-inside-inner-col{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-sm, 1rem);}.kadence-column19161_9986b3-10 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;}.kadence-column19161_9986b3-10 > .kt-inside-inner-col > .aligncenter{width:100%;}.kadence-column19161_9986b3-10 > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{opacity:0.3;}.kadence-column19161_9986b3-10{position:relative;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-column19161_9986b3-10 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}@media all and (max-width: 991px){.kadence-column19161_9986b3-10 > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-column kadence-column19161_9986b3-10\"><div class=\"kt-inside-inner-col\">\n<p>Wilmington University\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.wilmu.edu\/continuinged\/index.aspx\">College of Professional and Continuing Education<\/a>, in partnership with its Human Resources department, marked the completion of the inaugural ASPIRE Leadership Program.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>ASPIRE, an acronym for: Awareness, Self-discovery, Potential, Inspiration, Reflection and Engagement, is designed for employees in non-supervisory roles who want to lead with confidence, clarity, and purpose. The program has made such a positive impact at WilmU, the college is now offering ASPIRE to government agencies, nonprofits and private-sector employers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The goal of ASPIRE is to cultivate a culture where employees feel empowered to take initiative, collaborate across teams, and align their work with their organization\u2019s mission, vision and values. The program\u2019s structure \u2014 four modules delivered through engaging, hands-on learning \u2014 makes leadership development accessible, practical and impactful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>\u201cIt was a wonderful experience to participate in the program, gaining valuable insights into theoretical concepts through a practical approach during the group activities,\u201d says one participant. \u201cI also appreciated the opportunity to connect and collaborate with colleagues from other departments.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><em>Article by Eileen Smith Dallabrida<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<style>.kb-row-layout-wrap.wp-block-kadence-rowlayout.kb-row-layout-id19161_19b741-a0{margin-top:0em;}.kb-row-layout-id19161_19b741-a0 > .kt-row-column-wrap{align-content:center;}:where(.kb-row-layout-id19161_19b741-a0 > .kt-row-column-wrap) > .wp-block-kadence-column{justify-content:center;}.kb-row-layout-id19161_19b741-a0 > .kt-row-column-wrap{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-none, 0rem );row-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-none, 0rem );max-width:var( --global-content-width, 1290px );padding-left:var(--global-content-edge-padding);padding-right:var(--global-content-edge-padding);padding-top:0em;padding-right:0em;padding-bottom:0em;padding-left:0em;grid-template-columns:minmax(0, 1fr) minmax(0, 2fr);}.kb-row-layout-id19161_19b741-a0{border-top:1px solid #eeeeee;border-right:1px solid #eeeeee;border-bottom:1px solid #eeeeee;}.kb-row-layout-id19161_19b741-a0 > .kt-row-layout-overlay{opacity:0.30;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kb-row-layout-id19161_19b741-a0 > .kt-row-column-wrap{grid-template-columns:minmax(0, 1fr) minmax(0, 2fr);}}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kb-row-layout-id19161_19b741-a0{border-top:1px solid #eeeeee;border-right:1px solid #eeeeee;border-bottom:1px solid #eeeeee;}}@media all and (max-width: 991px){.kb-row-layout-id19161_19b741-a0 > .kt-row-column-wrap{grid-template-columns:minmax(0, 1fr);}.kb-row-layout-id19161_19b741-a0{border-top:1px solid #eeeeee;border-right:1px solid #eeeeee;border-bottom:1px solid #eeeeee;}}.wu-text-col,.wu-img-col {\tmin-height: 114px;}.wu-text-col &gt; 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 margin-block-end: 1em;}img[src$=\".svg\"] {  max-width: 220px;}<\/style>\n<div class=\"wp-block-kadence-column kadence-column19161_5d0287-c5 kb-section-dir-horizontal wu-img-col\"><div class=\"kt-inside-inner-col\"><style>.kb-image19161_fac795-78:not(.kb-image-is-ratio-size) .kb-img, .kb-image19161_fac795-78.kb-image-is-ratio-size{padding-top:0px;padding-right:0px;padding-bottom:0px;padding-left:0px;}.kb-image19161_fac795-78 .kb-image-has-overlay:after{opacity:0.3;}<\/style>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-kadence-image kb-image19161_fac795-78 image-is-svg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"230\" height=\"120\" src=\"https:\/\/blog.wilmu.edu\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/08\/wilmu-cta-logo-wu.svg\" alt=\"Wilm U post footer logo\" class=\"kb-img wp-image-17727\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n<style>.kadence-column19161_34b6ac-cb > .kt-inside-inner-col{display:flex;}.kadence-column19161_34b6ac-cb > .kt-inside-inner-col{padding-right:var(--global-kb-spacing-sm, 1.5rem);padding-left:var(--global-kb-spacing-sm, 1.5rem);}.kadence-column19161_34b6ac-cb > .kt-inside-inner-col{column-gap:var(--global-kb-gap-sm, 1rem);}.kadence-column19161_34b6ac-cb > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;align-items:stretch;}.kadence-column19161_34b6ac-cb > .kt-inside-inner-col > .kb-image-is-ratio-size{align-self:stretch;}.kadence-column19161_34b6ac-cb > .kt-inside-inner-col > .wp-block-kadence-advancedgallery{align-self:stretch;}.kadence-column19161_34b6ac-cb > .kt-inside-inner-col > .aligncenter{width:100%;}.kt-row-column-wrap > .kadence-column19161_34b6ac-cb{align-self:center;}.kt-inner-column-height-full:not(.kt-has-1-columns) > .wp-block-kadence-column.kadence-column19161_34b6ac-cb{align-self:auto;}.kt-inner-column-height-full:not(.kt-has-1-columns) > .wp-block-kadence-column.kadence-column19161_34b6ac-cb > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}.kadence-column19161_34b6ac-cb > .kt-inside-inner-col{background-color:#eeeeee;}.kadence-column19161_34b6ac-cb > .kt-inside-inner-col:before{opacity:0.3;}.kadence-column19161_34b6ac-cb{position:relative;}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kt-row-column-wrap > .kadence-column19161_34b6ac-cb{align-self:center;}}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kt-inner-column-height-full:not(.kt-has-1-columns) > .wp-block-kadence-column.kadence-column19161_34b6ac-cb{align-self:auto;}}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kt-inner-column-height-full:not(.kt-has-1-columns) > .wp-block-kadence-column.kadence-column19161_34b6ac-cb > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}}@media all and (max-width: 1024px){.kadence-column19161_34b6ac-cb > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;align-items:stretch;}}@media all and (max-width: 991px){.kt-row-column-wrap > .kadence-column19161_34b6ac-cb{align-self:center;}.kt-inner-column-height-full:not(.kt-has-1-columns) > .wp-block-kadence-column.kadence-column19161_34b6ac-cb{align-self:auto;}.kt-inner-column-height-full:not(.kt-has-1-columns) > .wp-block-kadence-column.kadence-column19161_34b6ac-cb > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;}.kadence-column19161_34b6ac-cb > .kt-inside-inner-col{flex-direction:column;justify-content:center;align-items:stretch;}}.kt-row-column-wrap &gt; 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