The Leadership Formation Collaborative
Closing the gap
between knowing and doing
The Leadership Formation Collaborative is a research and formation environment at Oklahoma State University dedicated to one of the most persistent and consequential challenges in educational leadership. A decade of research has shown most school leaders already understand the language of the work, but lack is the practiced experience of enacting it in the moments that matter most. The Collaborative exists to formally study that mechanism through structured research, scholarly inquiry and applied formation experiences.
Integrating research
Engaging beyond the university
The Leadership Formation Collaborative generates knowledge that is as useful in a school hallway as it is in a peer-reviewed journal. It functions simultaneously as a teaching platform and a data-generating research resource, producing insight into how educational leaders navigate high-stakes conversations over time. Partner institutions, school districts, and leadership development organizations participate in its work to extend formation experiences to practicing leaders in real-life contexts. This community-embedded dimension reflects a commitment to scholarship that is both rigorous and deeply accountable to the communities it serves, in alignment with the land-grant mission of Oklahoma State University.
Join Us
The Collaborative is growing and seeking partners to grow with us.
We work with school districts, educational organizations, and leadership programs ready to move beyond one-time professional development toward leadership as an ongoing practice. We also welcome faculty, researchers, and doctoral students committed to rigorous, solution-oriented work that extends beyond the academy.