Applications for the 2027 Facilitation Lab cohort are open now and close on November 15, 2026.
About the Programs
Facilitation groups and conversations is foundational to effective community engagement. Public Service and Outreach offers professional development in facilitation, helping participants build the skills to lead groups, design meaningful processes, and guide people toward productive outcomes in complex public and community settings. This work is offered through two programs: the Facilitation Academy, for UGA faculty and staff, and the Facilitation Lab, a new offering for outreach and engagement public service professionals at institutions beyond UGA.
Both programs are grounded in the same core learning outcomes. Participants build skills across five areas:
- Facilitation Fundamentals & Core Competencies — the foundational knowledge, mindset, and core competencies needed to plan, lead, and evaluate facilitation processes that foster collaboration, particularly in public spaces.
- Facilitation Design & Process Planning — designing purposeful, results-oriented facilitation processes that align participant needs, objectives, and desired outcomes.
- Group Engagement, Communication & Participation — creating inclusive, engaging environments through effective communication, active listening, and participation techniques.
- Managing Group Dynamics & Difficult Conversations — strategies for navigating conflict, challenging behaviors, and difficult conversations that build trust and move groups toward productive outcomes.
- Facilitation Methods, Tools, Techniques & Technology — applying methods and tools that support collaboration, decision-making, and engagement across in-person and virtual environments.
A key pillar underlies both programs: facilitation is inherently a political act, and the skill of the facilitator lies in the ability to remain personally neutral while navigating complex public issues. Facilitation education equips professionals with practical skills and reflective approaches that enhance their ability to serve communities, organizations, and stakeholders with integrity and impact.
Facilitation Academy
The Facilitation Academy is a professional development program for a select number of UGA faculty and staff who want to cultivate effective facilitation, leadership and presentation skills. It is designed for those who use facilitation and process design in their work, but who do not consider themselves facilitators or have not received formal training.
The Facilitation Academy builds a network of internal facilitation and process consultants through peer modeling, mentoring and shared learning, positioning UGA faculty and staff as the provider of first choice for facilitation and process design work in public settings throughout the state.
- For UGA faculty or staff
- Participants must be nominated by a director, department head or dean.
- The academy begins in January and includes five, two-day sessions through the year.
- Participants must commit to attend all sessions.
For more information about the Facilitation Academy, contact Brendan Leahy, public service faculty for Public Service and Outreach, at bleahy@uga.edu or 706-542-0792.
Facilitation Lab
The Facilitation Lab is a new, immersive four-day professional development experience for outreach and engagement public service professionals at higher education institutions outside UGA. Building on eight years of success from the Facilitation Academy, the Lab combines foundational facilitation concepts with hands-on practice, feedback, and real-world application.
Through interactive learning, role-playing and peer coaching, participants strengthen their ability to create inclusive environments, design purposeful facilitation processes, and guide groups toward meaningful outcomes — even in complex community settings. Participants leave with greater confidence, practical experience, and a personalized toolkit they can apply immediately in their own outreach and engagement work.
- For outreach and engagement faculty and staff at higher education institutions
- Participants must apply by Nov. 15.
- The 2027 program will take place in Athens, Georgia, on February 1-4.
- Accepted attendees will be sent registration information by early December.
- Groups from the same institution are encouraged.
For more information about the Facilitation Lab, contact Angel Jackson, public service faculty for Public Service and Outreach, at arh1016@uga.edu or 706-542-1098.