Institute of the Americas opens applications for CaliBaja leadership academy

The Institute of the Americas is now accepting applications for the first CaliBaja North American Leadership Academy, an 11-month program for emerging leaders from San Diego, Imperial County and Baja California. The selective cohort aims to build cross-border leadership capacity as the region faces shared challenges in competitiveness, mobility, security, energy and water.

Why it matters: - The Academy is designed to develop leaders who can work across the U.S.-Mexico border on problems that affect the CaliBaja region in business, government, civil society and other sectors. - The program is aimed at turning cross-border interdependence into practical cooperation and shared economic and social gains.

What happened: - The Institute of the Americas opened applications for the inaugural 2026–27 cohort of the CaliBaja North American Leadership Academy. - Applications are due Oct. 16, 2026, at 5 p.m. Pacific Time. - The program will select up to 20 Fellows from San Diego and Imperial Counties and Baja California. - The inaugural cohort begins with orientation on Dec. 3–4, 2026.

The details: - The Academy is an 11-month hybrid program for emerging leaders, primarily ages 26–40. - Candidates should show initiative and influence in business, state and local government, public service, civil society, policy, philanthropy, academia, arts, culture and related fields. - Applicants are expected to commit to advancing their careers in the CaliBaja region with a broader binational and North American perspective. - The curriculum combines digital preparation, in-person sessions, field visits and stakeholder dialogue across the region. - Fellows will train in adaptive leadership, cross-cultural communication and human-centered design. - The program will cover the history, political economy and institutions of North America and CaliBaja. - Fellows will apply their learning to regional cases and team-based capstone projects presented at a public symposium. - Up to 10 full-tuition merit scholarships are planned through the Bersin-Nathanson Fellowship. - Spanish fluency is desirable but not required, and most sessions will be in English. - Applicants must be able to sustain the full program commitment and obtain employer support. - Program details and the application are available at the Academy application page. - The curriculum will address North American economic competitiveness, the CaliBaja innovation economy, the Imperial Valley–Mexicali opportunity, migration and lawful mobility, security, energy and water, cross-border mobility, and social entrepreneurship. - Cross-border mobility topics include transportation, housing access and workforce development.

Between the lines: - The Academy is built as a network, not just a classroom program, which suggests the Institute of the Americas wants participants to leave with durable cross-border relationships. - The issue set reflects how tightly linked the region’s economy and public policy are, especially around labor, mobility, infrastructure and energy. - The inclusion of scholars, business leaders and community voices on both sides of the border points to a broad coalition model rather than a single-sector leadership track. - The program’s emphasis on practical responses signals a focus on implementation, not just leadership theory.

What's next: - The Institute of the Americas will review applicants and name the first cohort of Fellows. - Selected Fellows will begin the program in December and move through the 11-month curriculum into a public capstone presentation. - Early support for the Academy comes from the Bersin-Foster Fund at the Jewish Community Foundation San Diego and the Alumbra Innovations Foundation. - The Academy is being developed with partners including the UC San Diego Center for U.S.–Mexican Studies, UC San Diego Design Lab, CETYS Universidad, the University of Houston and the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce. - Adaptive leadership training will be offered in conjunction with Harvard Online.

The bottom line: - The Institute of the Americas is launching a selective cross-border leadership program aimed at building the next generation of CaliBaja decision-makers.