The SPA Leadership Program is a 15-credit program that culminates in a Certificate in Advanced Leadership Studies that provides students with the requisite experience, skills, and knowledge to prepare for leadership roles in public service. The first two years of the program (SPA-361 and SPA-362) are focused on the completion of a social action project which is accomplished in two stages. In the first stage, students develop a research question related to public affairs and then immerse themselves into the subject matter by completing an annotated bibliography, literature review, and policy memo among other research-focused assignments. The second stage requires the implementation of a project that seeks to address a component of the proposed research question. During the first year in the program, social actions projects are completed in subject matter teams of approximately seven students and the second year requires each student to engage with the process individually. The latter two years in the program are composed of the internship class and senior capstone. In the internship class, students acquire an internship and throughout their experience, reflect on the leadership skills practiced as well as learn how to navigate the professional workforce. The final component – the senior capstone – is where students reflect on their skills that they have cultivated during their time in the program and prepare for their post-graduation careers.
The SPA Leadership Program supplements its academic rigor with a community-based component. Two Student Co-Directors assist in collaborating with faculty to facilitate the program and work with first- and second-year teaching assistants as well as five steering committee teams – interclass and community coordinators, communications, diversity and inclusion, networking and alumni, and fundraising. The student-led component of the SPA Leadership Program is what makes it a unique opportunity for students to learn about the importance of leadership in public affairs as well as adequately prepare them for a successful career following graduation.
The academic rigor and community-based components of the program have supported me in transforming into a strong, capable, and resilient leader. Participating in the completion of social action projects both in a group as well as individually instilled in me the importance of teamwork and collaboration. I also cultivated transferable skills including communication and adaptability throughout the process of developing a research question, executing and compiling research, and implementing a project. The internship and capstone curriculum helped me to put the leadership theories and ideas learned in the classroom into practice and further define my own leadership style. As I prepare to graduate from the program, I have learned about a litany of different leadership styles and their unique characteristics and values, how to examine historical and current events and the leadership requirements that were demanded of those in positions of power, and perhaps most importantly, what it means to be an effective leader.
My four years in the SPA Leadership Program have completely altered my perception of leadership. Prior to college and my participation in the program, I understood leadership as simply the ability for one person to guide their followers and oversee their day-to-day activities, providing specialized support on an as-needed basis. Today, I view leadership as an engaging, empowering, and immersive process. Not only does leadership require those in positions of authority to guide and support their followers, but also to engage with their followers’ needs and empower them to become leaders themselves. Leadership is an ongoing, vested relationship between leaders and followers in which each pushes the other to perform at their highest levels.
As I prepare to graduate from the SPA Leadership Program, the primary takeaway I have is the need to capitalize on passion while practicing compassion and empowerment. I strongly feel that a prerequisite for success is a deep commitment to the cause of choice and requires leaders to elevate and uplift their followers to help in the journey of enacting positive change.