Applications for ASTC’s New Leaders Fellowship are currently closed. The application window for the 2027-2028 cohort will open in spring of 2027.
In the meantime, learn more about the 2026-2027 program below and subscribe to our professional learning email list for updates about New Leaders and related opportunities with ASTC.
Application Information
2026-2027 Program Information
Applications for the 2025-2026 cohort of New Leaders Fellows are now open! Please review all information carefully, including:
Applications are due July 13, 2026 by 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time.
Who Can Apply
ASTC’s New Leaders Fellows are emerging leaders from across the science center and museum field. Representing a wide range of job roles, institutional settings, and personal backgrounds, Fellows share a commitment to advancing in leadership and driving change, both in their own institutions and the broader field.
Eligible applicants must:
- Currently work for an ASTC-member science center or museum. Multiple individuals from a single institution may apply in a given year; however, we will typically only accept one Fellow per institution, per year. Please note that the New Leaders curriculum is tailored to a North American context, with virtual workshops scheduled between 3:00—5:30 pm ET and a requirement to attend the 2026 ASTC Annual Conference in-person in Phoenix, Arizona. International participants are welcome to apply if these parameters and schedules align with their professional goals.
- Hold a “mid-career” role with supervisory or managerial responsibilities. Eligible applicants may serve in education, exhibits, collections, development, communications, guest services, HR, or any other role relevant to museum operations. Candidates’ supervisory or management responsibilities may include the regular coordination of work and performance management for direct reports (including paid staff or volunteers), project management, as well as budgetary accountability. Candidates without supervisory or managerial experience or candidates in executive or senior leadership-level roles do not qualify for the New Leaders Fellowship. Applicants must have held their current role for at least one year at the time of application.
- Demonstrate strong leadership potential, alongside a commitment to personal growth and professional engagement. ASTC’s New Leaders program seeks to build a skilled, empowered, and visionary leadership base for the science center and museum field. We are looking for emerging leaders who have the personal and professional capacities needed to grow and change, while leading their organization and the broader field through growth and change.
Program Benefits
The New Leaders Fellowship is a nine-month hybrid program that includes monthly virtual workshops, in-person professional development at ASTC’s Annual Conference, as well as multiple opportunities for structured networking with both peers and senior leaders in the field.
New Leaders Fellows benefit from unique, field-specific leadership curricula and resources, including:
- Training in leadership skills and concepts necessary for science center and museum professionals
- An intensive learning experience at ASTC’s Annual Conference, with signature, focused opportunities specifically for Fellows
- Network connections with peers, program alumni, and senior leaders in the field
The first virtual workshop will be held on Wednesday, August 19, 2026, from 3:00—5:30 pm ET. At this and subsequent monthly workshops (third Wednesdays from October through April, 3:00—5:30 pm ET), Fellows gain knowledge and develop skills that support their growth as leaders in the science center and museum field. Workshops include a mix of presentation, discussion, and interactive exercises designed to build on the diverse experiences, needs, and perspectives that Fellows bring to the program. Key topics include:
- Defining personal leadership values
- Cultivating cultures of change
- Understanding non-profit finances and budgeting
- Delivering effective feedback
At ASTC’s Annual Conference in Phoenix, Arizona, Fellows engage in a full slate of in-person activities focused on leadership development. These include:
- A full-day workshop exclusively for ASTC New Leaders Fellows (Tuesday, September 15). This foundational experience connects Fellows to leaders in the museum field while building lasting community within the cohort. The session kickstarts deep reflection, helping Fellows define their professional goals and identify the knowledge and skills needed to reach them.
- All-Access conference participation (Wednesday, September 16—Saturday, September 19). Fellows attend pre-conference intensives, keynotes, concurrent sessions, museum visits, special events, and other conference offerings based on their own learning goals related to leadership development.
- Conference colleague pairings. Each Fellow is matched with an established professional in the field who—by merit of their shared interests, similar career path, or both—can provide advice and encouragement related to fellows’ leadership development. Fellows and colleague pairs are provided with structured time for connecting in person at conference.
Beyond the virtual workshops and conference activities, Fellows benefit from the program’s cohort-based model, which offers both practical, professional connections as well as a trusted community of peers. Through Peer Coaching Circles, small groups of Fellows meet monthly to find workable solutions to problems while building their own coaching and listening skills. After completing the program, Fellows become part of an extended network of alumni and have opportunities to stay engaged—whether by joining networking events, speaking at future sessions, or supporting future cohorts as conference colleagues.
Program Cost
ASTC launched its first leadership fellowship program in 2000. Though the impact of the program over the last 26 years has been significant, we recognize that the number of people who could benefit from this transformative leadership training far exceeds the number of fellows we can accept each year.
In an effort to broaden the program and its impact on the field, ASTC is implementing a tuition-based program model that will expand the number of fellows we can engage, while encouraging institutional investment in leadership development.
Program tuition for the 2026-2027 cohort is $5,000 USD and includes:
- All workshops, training, peer coaching, and networking resources core to the nine-month program
- All-access registration to the 2026 ASTC Annual Conference in Phoenix, Arizona. In addition to the standard conference program, Fellows access a full-day workshop exclusively for New Leaders; one half-day extended session or expedition of choice; invitation-only special events, and access to both ticketed parties.
Fellows will be responsible for the costs of transportation, lodging, and non-provided meals associated with conference.
Scholarships
Full and partial scholarships are available, for both tuition and/or travel costs. Applicants who wish to be considered for a scholarship may indicate so in the appropriate section of the application.
Scholarships will be allocated based on need and merit, with the goal of enabling participation for as many highly qualified applicants, from as broad a range of ASTC-member organizations, as possible. We particularly aim to support:
- Institutions not represented in recent New Leaders cohorts (see past fellows).
- Small and/or rural institutions
- Fellows and institutions with high potential for leadership benefit, alongside a need for funding. We expect Fellows and their employing institutions to explore potential funding options and indicate need accordingly.
Tuition + Scholarship FAQ
New Leaders is a high-impact, transformative experience for Fellows and the organizations they serve. Over the years, ASTC has built and honed a nine-month curriculum that delivers results through intensive, intentional, and highly facilitated experiences. This high level of investment from ASTC staff and facilitators—along with the costs of in-person conference activities—brings the actual program cost well above $5,000 per Fellow. Historically, ASTC has funded this program internally; however, this model limits the number of Fellows we can engage each year. Our intent in establishing a tuition model is not to exclude potential Fellows (see Scholarship section, above), but rather to expand, making this transformative opportunity available to more individuals and their institutions.
Tuition should be paid by an organization, not an individual. Typically, that organization will be the Fellow’s employer (an ASTC-member science center or museum). In some cases, Fellows may source funding from an outside organization (for example, via a professional development grant from a local entity or philanthropic funder).
Though we appreciate that some Fellows may be motivated and financially positioned to pay as individuals, we see New Leaders as a collaborative, organization-level investment made by ASTC and ASTC-member organizations, to strengthen our institutions and the broader field. We maintain that funding arrangements should reflect that organization-level purpose.
The program application includes a section for indicating whether you would like to be considered for a scholarship.
The exact number of scholarships, and the value of each scholarship, will be determined by ASTC staff during the application review process. ASTC anticipates extending extensive financial support to the 2026 cohort. We expect that many scholarships will be partial scholarships, effectively resulting in a cost-share model between ASTC and ASTC-member institutions.
Apply anyway. We encourage you to begin a conversation with your organization’s leadership now, then continue that conversation if you are accepted into the program. Applicants will receive notification of acceptance and scholarship amounts by Wednesday, July 22, and will have until Wednesday, July 29 to confirm funding and participation.
No. The core program components will remain unchanged from recent years. Though we expect a larger cohort of participants in 2026, the participant-to-facilitator ratio will remain low, to support a personalized experience for Fellows. Program activities will include both large-group and small-group components, to support both broad networking and close-knit relationship development that past Fellows have valued.
How to Apply
- Review the Application Preview Document and prepare your materials. You will be asked to provide the following:
- Applicant information
- Responses to four essay questions (max 300 words each)
- Current resume
- Signed Statement of Understanding
- Whether you would like to be considered for a tuition and/or travel scholarship
- Optional demographic information
- Submit all required materials via the online application form by 11:59 p.m. Pacific Time on Monday, July 13, 2026.
- Review the Application Preview Document and prepare your materials. You will be asked to provide the following:
Contact
For questions about the New Leaders Fellowship, please email the Professional Learning & Impact Programs team at programs@astc.org.