Description of American University School of Public Affairs (SPA) Certificate Program in Advanced Leadership Studies
Created in 1990, American University School of Public Affairs Certificate Program in Advanced Leadership Studies offers students the opportunity to learn leadership theory, practice, and prepare them for leadership roles. After a competitive application process students complete a 15-credit course of study to achieve their Certificate. The program allows students an opportunity to cultivate their leadership skills with practical application.
To learn more visit American University School of Public Affairs Certificate Program in Advanced Leadership Studies website here.
Experience in American University’s SPA Certificate Program in Advanced Leadership Studies
Working with the School of Public Affairs Leadership, Jac has developed as a leader. During her first year in the SPA Leadership Program, Jac worked with a team of five to address water inequality in the District of Columbia. After completing her first year with the program, Jac went on to serve as a first-year teaching assistant for the incoming class. She worked with the Public Health and Policy issue group, helping to address mental health concerns among elementary-aged children during the COVID-19 pandemic. As a second-year in the School of Public Affairs Leadership Program, Jac conducted research on the impact of the current COVID-19 pandemic on women in domestic violence situations. She looks forward to applying both her policy and leadership experience with future opportunities.
2019-2020 Academic School Year SPA Leadership Reflection
Working with my fellow team members in the Public Health and Policy Issue Group helped me to better understand my role as a team member and leader. In this context, I grew my ability to step up as a leader and follow other group members. It was this experience that helped me be successful this year as a First-Year Teaching Assistant for this year’s Public Health and Policy Issue Group. I was able to hone my skills as a leader, taking this opportunity to practice everyday leadership skills in a small group environment.
This past year, I have been working on a project to better understand how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted rates of gender-based violence. Using data from prior natural disasters, I have begun to understand how we can anticipate the COVID-19 pandemic to continue to impact women and families in their homes. Further, this moment requires strong leadership and compassion in order to bring adequate support to those in need.
2020-2021 Academic School Year SPA Leadership Reflection
In the School of Public Affairs Leadership Program, I have grown in my ability as a leader to advocate, execute, connect, self-reflect, and guide. The SPA Leadership professors and community has given me a space to practice exercising my ability as a leader while simultaneously gaining a strong education in different leadership philosophies and theories. Over the course of the two years in the program, I further developed my personal leadership philosophy borrowing from the many different leadership theories I learned about. This was incredibly helpful in transferring my leadership skills to other situations, outside of an academic sphere.
I sought to research how the COVID-19 pandemic has greatly increased rates of intimate partner violence. In the fall of 2020, my research sought to answer the question of: if, in the past, domestic violence rates have spiked when people have stayed in their homes for an extended periods, could we then anticipate an increase in domestic violence rates amid the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown? After performing extensive research in the fall of 2020, I crafted a social action project this past spring to raise awareness of the increased rates and the available virtual resources for survivors. My research compiled resources while spreading statistics to the general public through social media sites such as Instagram and Facebook.
2021-2022 Academic School Year SPA Leadership Reflection
I had the opportunity to expand my knowledge of leadership. Through guided exercises, I was able to reflect on my personal leadership style and key moments where strong leadership is critical. By examining strong leaders from history and how their leadership style helped them navigate challenging situations.