GSAEC Hosts Strategic Planning Retreat to Shape Future of Graduate-Level Coaching Education

Philadelphia, PA - After years of virtual interactions, members of the Graduate School Alliance for Education in Coaching (GSAEC) gathered in person for a pivotal Strategic Planning Retreat for the first time since 2019. The retreat was held at Houston Hall on the University of Pennsylvania campus in Philadelphia and spanned two days, from Thursday, July 25 to Friday, July 26, 2024.

The retreat brought together 15 dedicated members, providing an opportunity to accomplish significant work while rekindling relationships and building new connections. The purpose was clear: to move intention to action. As like-minded academics, researchers, coaching educators, and professionals, GSAEC members are deeply passionate about changing lives through coaching grounded in academic education.

Chaired by Board President Charline Russo and facilitated by Kent Blumberg, Carrie Arnold (Vice President), and Okokon Udo, the retreat was an opportunity to effectively assess GSAEC’s current state, envision a superior future state, and craft action plans for a better and more sustainable organization.

Key outcomes included:

• Reaffirming GSAEC's role as the creator and standard-bearer for graduate-level coaching education and a nexus for thought leadership.
• Committing to anchor content and programming in academic standards, with a primary focus on institutions, program directors, and coach educators.
• Adopting a new focus on financial health to create a more effective and sustainable organization capable of better serving the community.

To achieve these goals, GSAEC articulated several key commitments:

• Academic Standards Update: Recognizing this as core to their value proposition, GSAEC will focus on a rapid and effective update of the academic standards, with a delivery date of Q1 2025, utilizing an “all hands-on deck” approach across institutional partners.
• 2026 Conference: Plans are underway for a 2026 conference (held in the USA) celebrating GSAEC’s 20th anniversary. This event will serve as a significant fundraiser, with all content and programming designed to underscore the value of GSAEC academic standards.
• Structural Revisions: Proposals are being developed to revise the governing model to enhance the brand, name recognition, and purpose of the Graduate School Alliance for Education in Coaching.

This retreat marked the beginning of a new chapter for GSAEC, setting a course for future success by translating collective passion into impactful actions. The organization is excited to continue this journey with renewed vigor and purpose.

For more information, please contact: info@gsaec.org.

The Graduate School Alliance of Education in Coaching (GSAEC) is an association of institutions and individuals dedicated to strengthening and promoting the discipline and practice of coaching through excellence in graduate-level coaching education and research. GSAEC’s mission is to define, advance and sustain graduate-level research and education in coaching globally by:

• Establishing and advocating academic standards that shape the discipline of coaching.
• Inviting research activities that enhance the quality and effectiveness of the coaching profession;
• Building and supporting a collaborative community of leaders in coaching education, research, and practice; and
• Championing, promoting, and amplifying the influence and impact of professional coaching education.