The Leadership Initiative
The Ford School's Leadership Initiative develops and offers a growing suite of graduate and undergraduate student leadership courses, coaching, and extracurricular programs that build on and complement the school's excellent, rigorous curriculum. Led by Professor Morela Hernandez and a team of leadership and career development professionals, our program is the only of its kind among policy schools.
We know that leadership doesn't "just happen." All of us have the capacity to lead—to make a positive impact on our organizations, communities, and the people around us. We believe that leadership is a behavioral process, and that learning it is a critical part of the preparation we offer to policy professionals.
We help our students focus on self-awareness, mindfulness, observation, resilience, understanding difference, and navigating conflict to cultivate skills to lead projects and people. We help them be intentional about their own growth and development. Read our mission statement.
Learning leadership
What we offer to Ford School students
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Our job is to provide as many tools as possible to help students fulfill their calling. Leadership is a big part of that. We are proud to help lead the way in transforming the ways in which our future public servants are trained, supported, and inspired to contribute to the public good.
Morela Hernandez, Ligia Ramirez de Reynolds Collegiate Professor of Public Policy; Faculty director, Leadership Initiative
Empowered
Featured event
Morela Hernandez & Michael S. Barr: Learning leadership?
Capable leadership is essential in the public and private sectors, but we don't always think of it as a skill that can be taught. Why not? And if it...
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75%
of MPP students chose to participate in coaching during summer 2023
318
students received professional coaching since 2019
424
CliftonStrengths assessments completed since 2019