Frequently Asked Questions

What is the IGEL Advanced Program?
The inaugural IGEL Advanced Program will be an immersive professional development opportunity designed exclusively for IGELians, to advance stakeholder engagement, conflict management skills, and consensus-building. Participants will gain the ability to analyze the root causes of environmental conflict, engage diverse stakeholders through structured processes, navigate high-emotion disputes, lead systems-level transformation, and build coalitions that translate environmental goals into durable action. Through case studies around issues like data centers and Georgia’s bioeconomy, the program will use immersive, experiential learning to develop practical skills in stakeholder analysis, negotiation, systems thinking and collaborative leadership.

Who are your notable alumni?
Hundreds of IGELians have completed the core program – including leaders from academia, industry, government, and civic organizations. After graduation, alumni put their new skills and training to work, addressing environmental challenges, often hand-in-hand with fellow IGELians.

Our alumni network includes notable Georgians such as Jeaneanne Gettle, EPA Region 4 Acting Regional Administrator; Ryan Gravel, urban designer, author, entrepreneur and visionary behind the Atlanta Beltline; Will Harris, regenerative farmer and owner of White Oak Pastures; Doug Hooker, CEO of the Midtown Connector Park Foundation; and Hannah Palmer, author of the award-winning book Flight Path and co-creator of Finding the Flint.

Today, the organization is investing in engagement beyond the core leadership program, with tools and communications to develop more engaged communities of practice, to support Georgia’s environmental
leaders continue to work together to create a brighter future for our state.

Who should apply?
The IGEL Advanced Program is designed for highly engaged IGEL alumni who are ready to deepen their leadership and expand their impact. We continue to value a cohort that reflects Georgia’s economic, racial, generational, geographic, and institutional diversity- bringing together varied perspectives to collaboratively address the state’s most complex environmental challenges.

What can I expect from the program?
The IGEL Advanced Program offers a next-level experience for alumni through thoughtfully designed, multi-day sessions and peer engagement. Participants gain:

• A deeper, more nuanced understanding of Georgia’s most complex environmental challenges and the systems that shape them.
• Opportunities to engage directly with decision-makers, stakeholders, and communities to explore real-time issues and their broader impact.
• A highly interactive learning environment that leverages the expertise of fellow IGELians, challenges perspectives, and strengthens the ability to lead through complexity.

When is the deadline to apply?
Applications will open on April 15, 2026 and close at 11:59 pm, Sunday, May 17, 2026.

What are the 2026 session dates?
The Advanced Program will include two, virtual sessions and two, multi-day sessions that will take place in different parts of the state.  Each session is designed to educate participants on different environmental challenges and opportunities, with a combination of classroom discussion and hands-on, experiential learning. Attendance at each session is mandatory.

• Class of 2026 session dates:
  • Session 1: Virtual | July 31, 2026
  • Session 2: Metro Atlanta | August 26-28, 2026
  • Session 3: Virtual | September 11, 2026
  • Session 4: Macon | October 21-23, 2026

How many participants are accepted each year?
Please know this is a highly competitive program with only 25 participants in each class.

What are the 2026 tuition costs?

Tuition fee covers instruction, course materials, lodging, and meals. The tuition paid by the program participants covers approximately half of the full cost of the deployment of the program. The remaining program costs are paid through fundraising efforts by the IGEL Board and corporate sponsors.

IGEL recognizes that many strong candidates—particularly civic and community leaders—are unable to secure the full amount of tuition. There are a limited number of needs-based scholarship opportunities to accepted applicants. These scholarships are made possible through generous corporate, foundation and individual gifts, as well as gifts from individuals throughout the IGEL Network.

When will I know if I was accepted?
Applicants will be notified the final selections by mid-June, 2026. Candidates selected for the 2026 program will also be invoiced at that time and full payment of tuition is due by July 15, 2026.

If you have additional questions, please email them to us.

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