Region V Roundup: “Leadership Gaps and Panic Attacks: What to Do When Succession Planning Fails”
NCURA Region V is pleased to announce the upcoming virtual education session for September 2026.
Topic: Leadership Gaps and Panic Attacks: What to Do When Succession Planning Fails
Date: Wednesday, September 9th, 2026
Time: 12:00pm to 1:00pm CDT
Presenter: Courtney Swaney, MPA, CRA – Principal, Attain Partners
Register HERE by Monday, September 7th, 2026.
Note: A confirmation email will be sent with the Zoom link by Tuesday, September 8th. The registrant’s first and last name must match the Zoom profile first and last name, which will allow admittance to NCURA Region V’s Roundup session.
Presentation Description:
When a key leader leaves and there’s no succession plan in place, research administrators are left scrambling. This fast-paced, solutions-focused session tackles what to do when the worst-case scenario
becomes reality. You’ll learn how to quickly stabilize your team, fill the gap with confidence, and prevent disruption to your research enterprise. But we won’t stop there – we’ll dive into how to avoid ever getting to that point by building a resilient, proactive succession strategy. From gaining leadership buy-in to creating a talent pipeline, you’ll walk away with actionable tools to protect your office and prepare your
people.
Learning Objectives:
By the end of this session, participants will be able to:
1. Identify the key risks and operational impacts of leadership vacancies in research administration.
2. Apply immediate-response strategies for maintaining stability and continuity when succession planning has failed.
3. Advocate for succession planning as a strategic priority to upper leadership.
4. Develop and implement practical, ongoing succession plans tailored to their teams.
5. Use tools such as emergency coverage plans, cross-training strategies, and leadership development frameworks to build future readiness.
Target Audience: Those in leadership positions.
Please contact ncuraregionv@gmail.com if you have any questions about the Region V Roundup series or to sign-up to provide a future presentation.