The Leadership Institute is a semester-long, seminar-style leadership experience which explores leadership through social justice issues and culminates with a week-long immersion project at the end of the spring semester at an off campus site. The program inspires the potential that individuals have to create and attain positive and sustainable social change.

The Garthwait Leadership Center in partnership with the Center for Public Service and the Eisenhower Institute coordinates this experience to challenge participants to think critically about civil rights and leadership and to act intentionally in addressing the social injustices of the 21st century. This leadership experience takes participants through an intensive, yet exciting journey in which historic examples of leadership in the 1950 -1960's American Civil Rights movement and the legacy of President Eisenhower are examined, specifically through the Little Rock Nine.

The Leadership Institute consists of learning workshops, lunch discussions, social issues dialogues, one-on-ones with Andy Hughes and the leadership mentors, and an all-expenses paid immersion trip to Abilene, Kansas and Little Rock, Arkansas. The goal is to equip participants with tools to actively challenge the social injustices through both an individual and a unified voice, and of course modeling the way for the present and future generations.

One requirement to apply is that all applicants must read Ike’s Final Battle by Kasey Pipes by their interview date. 

Important dates for the Leadership Institute:

Applications due

• January 15

Interviews

• Week of January 21-25

Lunches

• February 7
• February 21
• March 7
• March 21
• April 4
• April 18
• May 2

Other important dates

• February 8-9
• February 23
• April 6
• May 12-17

Contact Leadership Mentors, Meg Royer or Matt Maynard, with any questions.