The Association conducts an extensive program of leadership education for senior administrators, faculty, and racial/ethnic and women faculty and administrators. Leadership education is a longstanding programmatic emphasis of the Association as a means of contributing to the improvement of theological education. ATS understands its efforts at leadership education as a viable strategy for fulfilling its mission: to improve and enhance theological schools. Skilled leaders can provide skillful administration, which can contribute to institutional strength and effectiveness.

ATS provides educational support for those administrators who typically form the senior leadership team in ATS schools: presidents, chief academic officers, development officers, finance officers, and student personnel administrators. These groups have formed professional association-type organizations that meet on a regular basis and provide peer-directed leadership education. The work in each area is guided by a steering committee elected by the participants in the program.