The George Washington University is a community of driven individuals who bring rich and diverse lived experiences to our campus community. Students’ involvement in leadership development, through positional and non-positional roles, is an important part of the college experience. These roles help develop a wealth of transferable skills that are not only useful while at GW, but also in the world beyond GW.
Leadership is a purposeful and inclusive process of individuals working together to accomplish shared goals and positive change. We believe in the holistic development of students, that growing as a leader is a lifelong process, and that everyone has the ability to be a leader.
In our work, we blend a variety of leadership theories, with our core framework being based on the Social Change Model of Leadership and GW Values. Through this framework and our leadership programs, we strive to:
A workshop series with a wide variety of topics to choose from. Students can choose the topic and times that work best for them. ELS is a great opportunity for any individual to further their leadership abilities and knowledge. ELS also serves as the primarily tool for student organization officer training.
Launching in fall 2020, this new program will provide a guided experience through exploring one’s personal leadership development. Participants will explore their leadership strengths, attend Excellence in Leadership Sessions, engage in discussion with their peers, and intentionally reflect on their leadership skills and experiences.
Leadership Exploration and Development - a pre-orientation program for incoming, first-year undergraduate students. Upper class students have the opportunity to lead through the peer leader role.
A group of volunteer student leaders who lead outdoor day trips almost every weekend during the academic year, serve as guides for the Adventure Bound pre-orientation program, and lead Adventure Break trips during fall, spring, and winter breaks.
Topics can be adapted to meet the needs of a group. Examples of possible topics include, but are not limited to, group dynamics, leadership foundations, leadership styles, ethical decision making, communication skills, group development, conflict resolution, and self-awareness. Email Natalie Hershberger, Assistant Director for more information.
Leadership development doesn’t happen in one place. GW students have access to abundant resources across campus, both in academic spaces and co-curricular programs. We've put together a menu of resources across campus where you can learn more about leadership development opportunities at GW.
