ABOUT ADLER university
As the world changes, so do the demands on today’s leaders. We evolve our approach to reflect these new realities.
shaping the future of graduate education with purpose + clarity
At Adler, we cultivate breakaway thinkers into action-driven leaders who transform complex health systems through impact-focused co-creation. Adlerian values guide our direction and our people, grounding our commitment to social responsibility, community partnership, and preparing students to drive meaningful change.
vision | mission | values
At Adler University, we prepare students to lead with strategic courage. Across locations and communities, our students gain experience addressing systemic barriers and advancing public health. Guided by Adlerian values of community health and social interest, our graduates transform systems, creating a healthier, more unified world from day one.
VISION
The leading graduate institution advancing global health and well-being through community-rooted education and partnerships, courageous leadership, and systems-level transformation.
MISSION
Anchored in the scholarship of Alfred Adler and the enduring principle of Gemeinschaftsgefühl — a deep sense of social interest and mutual responsibility — Adler University prepares students to be global leaders who improve health outcomes through applied research, community co-creation, and immersive education.
This mission results in three core outcomes:
- LEADERSHIP: Through curiosity, courage, and collaboration, graduates emerge as global scholars and practitioners whose leadership transforms systems, advances well-being, and promotes social interest at every level of society.
- COLLABORATION: Students practice reciprocity and co-creation, fostering community connection and responsibility that leads to healthier systems and lasting impact.
- IMPACT: Students, faculty, and staff advance research, knowledge, and applied practices that create measurable and sustainable improvements in health and well-being — locally and globally.
VALUES
- TRANSFORMATIVE LEADERSHIP: We uphold the highest standards of quality, rigor, and integrity across our global education, scholarship, and outcomes.
- COURAGE + CURIOSITY: We challenge convention with intellect and ask fearless questions to strategically pursue new possibilities.
- EMPATHY + CO-CREATION: We create new knowledge and design solutions that reflect understanding, foster connection, and drive sustainable impact.
- SOCIAL INTEREST: We act with responsibility to others, advancing systems of care that support healthier communities at every level.
LATEST news
Alumni authors: Stories that inform, inspire, and empower
‘May Contain Anxiety’: How an Adler alum fills a critical gap for food allergy families
Adler University’s online master’s in psychology program ranks among top 10 for 2026
Rolling the dice: How gaming can be a powerful tool in therapy
Our roots
Alfred Adler’s concept of social interest — that individual well-being is inseparable from community health — reshaped psychology around the principles of prevention and systems change.
Since 1952, Adler University has carried that vision forward, preparing breakaway thinkers to transform structures and improve outcomes through immersive, real-world education.
Our reach
Adler’s changemaking scholars are leading real-world impacts on campus and beyond.
*FY24 data.
OUR COMMUNITY in action
Alumni authors: Stories that inform, inspire, and empower
Across genres and audiences, Adler University alumni are publishing titles that move beyond personal narrative or professional instruction, engaging urgent questions about how people heal, relate, and lead. The authors featured here bring that perspective into distinct contexts, offering a view into how Adler’s approach to education translates into practice, and how those ideas take shape in the lives and systems they are designed to serve.
‘May Contain Anxiety’: How an Adler alum fills a critical gap for food allergy families
When Tamara Hubbard’s three-year-old son was diagnosed with a peanut allergy, she found plenty of medical guidance, but nothing to help her family cope with the anxiety. The answers she needed didn’t exist. So, Hubbard created them.
Rolling the dice: How gaming can be a powerful tool in therapy
At this year’s Midwest Gaming Classic in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, a panel of mental health professionals is inviting attendees to take a closer look at what happens when gaming moves beyond entertainment and into clinical practice. The discussion brings together practitioners who are actively integrating video games and tabletop role-playing games into their work with clients.
President Lisa Coleman, Ph.D.
“At Adler, leadership isn’t about titles — it’s about transformation. We are building a university that equips breakaway thinkers to serve, disrupt, and reimagine the systems shaping our communities and our health.”
credentials you can count on
Adler University’s accreditations reflect a deep commitment to excellence, relevance, and real-world impact. Recognized across the U.S. and Canada, our graduate programs meet the highest academic and professional standards, ensuring graduates are ready to lead, serve, and drive meaningful change across sectors. With a reputation built on credibility and purpose, an Adler degree carries weight where it matters most.
Across Chicago, VANCOUVER + beyond
Adler University is an international university with campuses in two of North America’s most renowned cities: Chicago, Illinois, and Vancouver, British Columbia. While each location is unique, we are united as one university, building a healthier, more connected world. Together.
looking for something else?
Do you want to know more about Adler University before applying? Explore programs available at each location, admission requirements, financial aid and scholarships, and learn about our practicum program.