What is the Washoe County Leadership Academy?
Now in its fourth year, the Washoe County Leadership Academy is back and better than ever! The Washoe County Leadership Academy, or WCLA, is a 9-month educational and leadership program unlike any other, promoting knowledge of local government and providing training to hone leadership skills in conjunction with the University of Nevada, Reno (UNR) Cooperative Extension.
One full day per month from September until the following May, participants of the WCLA will be exposed to various aspects of Washoe County services, from the Sheriff's Office to the Libraries, and just about everything in-between. Learn how community partners are preserving Lake Tahoe, what makes Washoe County unique with a visit to Gerlach and the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe Museum and Visitor Center, who Eilley Bowers really was with a tour of her historic mansion, and how Washoe County is leading the way to better outcomes with investments into wraparound homeless and behavioral health services. This program sheds light on the inner workings of local government and provides insight on how to get more involved in your community. Best of all, forge friendships, make memories, and learn skills that will last a lifetime!
Each WCLA cohort will also design and complete a county-based class project to put their skills into practice, all the while developing their personal and professional networks.
Approximately 25 individuals from across the county will be selected to participate.
What's included?
- Nine jam-packed days of learning, connecting, and growing, including learning about your own strengths, team building with your classmates, and behind-the-scenes tours and special activities.
- A custom jacket featuring the Washoe County Leadership Academy logo.
- Do you live in Washoe County, more than 50 miles away from Reno? Accommodations the evening prior to each day of the Academy will be provided to make morning start times easier.
What does the program cost?
The program is completely free to selected participants.
Because Washoe County is investing in participants of this program, we hope selectees will invest in Washoe County by attending each day of the program and participating fully. ** (please see requirements listed under Application Information)
Why Participate?
- Get a close-up look at how local county government works, better understand the breadth of services available to constituents, and how the county impacts your everyday life.
- Grow your network to benefit yourself and your organization as it spans across the professional spectrum to gain new business and community contacts.
- Walk away with increased knowledge of the community, new friends, and pride in having completed a community project that will impact the county for years to come.
Application Information
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Each WCLA day occurs on a Friday during traditional work hours. Your place of business should be aware and accepting that you will be absent from work on each of these days prior to accepting a slot in the Academy.
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Activities may include walking, standing, and sitting, and require the stamina to complete a full 9-hour day, with lessons taking place both indoors and outdoors.
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Regular interaction with your cohort partners and Washoe County staff is expected. Being inquisitive is a plus!
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Ensure you can commit to attending the WCLA sessions by reviewing the dates provided at the bottom ↓ of the page. While participants are encouraged to attend every session, no more than two days may be missed. Any additional absences will result in dismissal from the program, regardless of the circumstances. Each missed day requires a robust makeup assignment to be completed before continuing with the program.
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There is a class project that will require in-class & outside hours on your part to interact with your teammates and accomplish your goal by the end of the Leadership program.
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Applicants should not expect the opportunity to promote services to their classmates, promote personal opinions about policies, or promote themselves for the purposes of political or personal gain. Due to the nonpartisan aspect of this program, active candidates for elected positions or sitting elected officials will not be accepted.
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WCLA is geared toward non-employee residents, so Washoe County employees are not eligible to apply. Additionally, applicants must live in Washoe County to be considered; employment or conducting business in Washoe County does not qualify.
Review Period & Participant Selections:
Applicants that may need accommodations to participate in the Academy are encouraged to contact Commissioner Support prior to applying.
2025-2026 Dates and Themes:
Welcome to the Washoe County Leadership Academy. Today we launch the Washoe County Leadership Academy with a bang! On this introductory day participants will get to know their fellow teammates with whom they will be spending the next nine months, as well as key staff members running the program. The morning promises to be fun, engaging, and will open the door to creating lasting relationships. Then, we lay the foundation for the program including an overview of the role of local government in your daily lives. And finally, an introduction to the class project that will allow participants to leave a legacy in our community.
Washoe County’s Native History & Sustainable Future day will take participants to parts of Washoe County that are a mystery to many, including the gateway to the international festival Burning Man - Gerlach, with a guided tour of the community’s unique art trail. No trip to Gerlach would be complete without lunch at Bruno’s Country Club. Later, enjoy the opportunity to meet with native tribe storytellers with a visit to the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe Museum & Visitor Center. Your time on the chartered bus will be worthwhile as you learn about what Washoe County is doing to create a sustainable future and the work of our community reinvestment team.
From Womb to Tomb, Washoe County is by your side. On this day we explore how Washoe County assists citizens throughout their lives including visits to many County departments that keep the community ticking, from birth and death records, marriage licenses, voting, assessment and taxing of property, senior services, and more. Finally, an intriguing visit to the Washoe County Medical Examiner’s Office is scheduled, including a look at their tissue recovery program so community members may continue to impact others even after death.
On this day participants will learn how Washoe County maintains safety and order in our community. With visits to the District Court and learning how Reno became a hotspot for hopeful divorcees, participants will receive an inside look at the role of the District Attorney, the Public Defender and district court judges in maintaining law and order. A visit to the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office allows participants to take a peek at the important role it plays in public safety. With a special look at the crime lab and a visit with a K-9 officer, today is going to be a memorable one.
The Regional Emergency Operations Center is front and center on this day as we provide a greater understanding of how Washoe County works across jurisdictions and cultures to create calm in the chaos during an emergency. Participants will learn about the multiple moving parts and roles of emergency management and emergency communications strategies. Then, visit the 9-1-1 dispatch center and gain a new appreciation for these everyday heroes who pick up the phone during an emergency, 24/7/365. And speaking of dialing 9-1-1, today we also get an insider’s look at Truckee Meadows Fire Protection District and their response to citizens’ needs, through both prevention and response to fire danger. And finally, this day will include a visit to Washoe County Regional Animal Services for a peek into what they do to keep animals safe in their scariest of moments: being lost, quarantined, or even abused.
It’s February, and with that, everyone is thinking about hearts. This month, participants will explore the softer side of the work the County does as we take a deep dive into the work we do to help vulnerable populations. Today we will learn about the county’s Built for Zero housing model with on-site exploration of county facilities made for unhoused individuals, discover inspiring programs for those in recovery and transitioning to permanent housing, and an intriguing and spirited visit to the mental health institute with a look at how behavioral health has been handled in the past, and what Washoe County is doing to impact our citizens in the future with new models and ways of thought about behavioral health.
What licenses do I need to start a business? What is a master plan? Where is my snowplow? How can I get a pothole fixed? From road work and housing development to code enforcement, meet our public service employees who work tirelessly to ensure that the county runs like clockwork. Today includes a dutiful visit to the South Truckee Meadows Water Reclamation Facility where participants will see firsthand how cutting-edge technology and process improvements are turning "yuck" into clean and safe water, all while promoting sustainability. As we like to say, ask not what you can do, but what your doo-doo can do for you. Finally, our unsung heroes – librarians – will be paid a visit today, as we enjoy the beautiful downtown Library for a greater understanding of the many offerings of the Washoe County Library System. From craft projects to legal aid, we promise you it’s more than simply books! You won’t want to miss this incredible day of education, appreciation, and fun!
Beautiful Lake Tahoe and Bowers Mansion Regional Park are on deck for our day dedicated to The Gems of Washoe County. Visit striking Lake Tahoe and take a private tour of the UC Davis Tahoe Environmental Research Center to learn how this iconic lake draws crowds to Washoe County from around the world, ecotourism, and what we can do to protect its majesty. Then, stop by Washoe County’s beloved Bowers Mansion Regional Park to learn about the Comstock millionaires and how Ms. Bowers made this a welcoming place for all, and the many programs taking place