Moral Leadership in the Innovation Age
Program Description:
Learn how to navigate the complex ethical landscape of the 21st-century with an executive education program designed to fit a busy schedule: three, two-hour virtual sessions followed by four, in-person sessions at Teachers College, Columbia University and Union Theological Seminary (Union).
Whether you lead a nonprofit organization, educational institution, faith community, or government agency, Moral Leadership in the Innovation Age will equip you with skills for ethical decision-making.
You'll explore how timeless moral principles apply to contemporary challenges through a multifaith, non-denominational lens. The program examines how leaders can maintain moral integrity while navigating innovation, build inclusive communities, and address the ethical implications of emerging technologies.
Participants will:
- Learn to bridge moral traditions with modern challenges, including artificial intelligence, digital ethics, social justice, and organizational transformation
- Gain practical tools for ethical leadership
- Engage in discussions about modern case studies
- Join a network of values-driven leaders from a wide variety of career backgrounds
The hybrid format includes:
- Virtual sessions on October 15, October 29, and December 3
- In-person sessions November 16–19 at Teachers College, Columbia University
Developed by the Adult Learning and Leadership program at Teachers College, Columbia University and Union's Technology, Innovation, and Digital Engagement Lab (TIDEL).
Watch the Information Session
Click here to watch a Zoom recording of the information session. Hear from the instructors about the program curriculum and format as well as how this program can benefit anyone passionate about bringing an ethical perspective to their workplace.
Dates & Registration
Dates: October 15 – December 3, 2026
Format: Hybrid
- Virtual sessions on October 15, October 29, and December 3 (7–9pm EDT)
- In-person sessions November 16–19 at Teachers College, Columbia University and Union Theological Seminary
Price:
- Non-residential - $3,250.00
- Residential - $3,750.00*
Any questions? Email tcacademy@tc.columbia.edu
*Click the "Enroll Now" button and select the "Residential" option. There are 20 rooms available first-come, first-served.
Instructors
Dr. Gabby Cudjoe Wilkes is The Director of the Technology, Innovation & Digital Engagement Lab (TIDEL) Fellowship & Programs at Union Theological Seminary. Her work convenes scholars, technologists, founders, and faith leaders around the ethical, social, and human implications of emerging technologies. She is a pastor, public theologian, professor and institution builder exploring how the rapid pace of innovation is reshaping communities, leadership, work, and human flourishing. Dr. Gabby is a graduate of Duke University (D. Min), Yale University (M. Div.), New York University (M.A) and Hampton University (B.A.).
Dr. Brian K. Perkins is a Professor of Practice at Teachers College, Columbia University, where he directs the Summer Principals Academy master's degree program in New York City and New Orleans, having previously led the College's doctoral program in Urban Education Leadership. He is an internationally sought consultant who has worked across the U.S., Brazil, South Africa, China, India, and beyond. He served 11 years as President of the New Haven Board of Education and held national leadership roles with organizations, including the National School Boards Association. As Principal Investigator of the landmark urban school climate studies Where We Learn, Where We Teach, and What We Think, he developed the widely distributed American School Climate Inventory. He holds degrees from Grambling State University, the Yale School of Medicine, and Teachers College, Columbia University.
Learning Objectives
At the completion of this course, participants will be able to:
- Develop a framework for ethical decision-making and moral leadership.
- Evaluate innovation processes within mission-driven organizations and understand the intersection of technology, innovation, and organizational change.
- Analyze the moral, equitable, and social justice implications of artificial intelligence and emerging technologies for organizations and communities.
- Apply strategies for balancing short-term needs, long-term sustainability, mission alignment, and ethical considerations in organizational innovation.
- Navigate a dynamic leadership simulation involving decisions about the adoption of emerging technologies in mission-driven institutions.
Upon Completion
Participants who successfully complete this executive education program will earn a verified Certificate of Participation and an official Digital Badge—valuable credentials that showcase your commitment to professional growth and can be shared on LinkedIn or digital portfolios.
View our sample program badge and certificate below:
Important Notice: This is a non-credit program. Completion does not provide academic credit toward any degree program at Teachers College or other institutions. No transcript credit will be awarded.
Where to Stay
Teachers College Guest Housing
Enroll early to take advantage of TC Guest Housing options included in cost. Complete your residential registration here.
Hotels
For registrants who purchased the non-residential option, Union has negotiated discounted room rates with Renaissance Hotel Harlem. Use this special discount link to book your stay.
FAQ
Moral Leadership in the Innovation Age is an executive education program from Teachers College, Columbia University, developed in partnership with Union Theological Seminary's Technology, Innovation, and Digital Engagement Lab (TIDEL).
It equips values-driven leaders with frameworks for ethical decision-making in an era of rapid technological change, exploring how timeless moral principles apply to challenges like artificial intelligence, digital ethics, social justice, and organizational transformation.
The program is designed for leaders across sectors, including nonprofit executives, educational administrators, government officials, and faith community leaders, who want to lead with integrity through periods of disruption and change.
No religious affiliation is required; the curriculum is taught through a multifaith, non-denominational lens.
Tuition is $3,250 for non-residential participants and $3,750 for residential participants, which includes on-campus housing during the in-person sessions (available first-come, first-served).
It's a hybrid program with three two-hour virtual sessions and four in-person sessions that will take place on the Teachers College campus in New York City.
The program runs seven weeks, from October 15 through December 3, 2026, combining virtual and in-person sessions rather than requiring a continuous multi-week commitment.
The program is led by Dr. Gabby Cudjoe Wilkes, Director of TIDEL Fellowship & Programs at Union Theological Seminary, and Dr. Brian K. Perkins, Professor of Practice at Teachers College, Columbia University.
Participants develop ethical decision-making frameworks, examine the moral and social justice implications of AI and emerging technology, learn to evaluate innovation through the lens of organizational mission and sustainability, and apply what they learn through case studies, interactive discussions, and leadership simulation exercises.
Participants who complete the program receive a Certificate of Participation and a shareable digital badge for LinkedIn. The program does not carry academic credit . It's a non-credit executive education offering.
For questions about financial aid or scholarship opportunities for this program, contact TC Academy directly at tcacademy@tc.columbia.edu.
Click the "Enroll Now" button and select the Residential option. There are 20 rooms available, offered on a first‑come, first‑served basis.