Public Leadership
Examining today's events to develop tomorrow's leaders
Introduction
As a nation and as a world, we face multiple urgent challenges, from unemployment to climate change. How might our differing perspectives play into how we address these problems? And how do we assess what could work, and why?
Public Leadership (PL) focuses on current events and policy issues to explore the theory and practice of leadership. Students are encouraged to use their own leadership skills to address pressing social, political, environmental and economic problems. They explore:
- Different models of leadership, citizenship and social change;
- Forms of power and how to use them effectively; and
- Ethical approaches to decision-making and negotiation.
Through panels, debates, role-playing, group discussion and dialogue with guest speakers, PL students become informed citizens able to engage in a healthy discussion of issues and reason critically and persuasively about public matters. Personal and professional development are also integrated into the curriculum: Students will develop their writing and presentation skills; learn negotiation fundamentals; and accurately assess their own leadership styles and strengths.
PL welcomes students of all majors who are committed to developing their leadership skills in pursuit of the common good.
Colloquium and Lecture Topics
- Leadership and social change application
- Negotiation and conflict resolution
- Persuasion and motivation
- Understanding leadership strengths in yourself and others
Joining the PL program was one of the best decisions I made at Maryland. Because of PL, many career opportunities opened for me that otherwise would have been a long shot, and the floormates I lived with in the PL dorms are some of the best friends I've made at UMD.
Other Learning Opportunities
Located near the nation's capital, the state capital and a large international diplomatic community, the University of Maryland is an ideal setting for examining and growing public leadership. Students:
- Take engaging field trips, such as to the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum, the U.S. Capitol and the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts;
- Experience professional development seminars and speaker events; and
- Participate in a team-based grant-making experience, where they seek grant proposals from campus student organizations serving an identified social issue, evaluate proposals and award grants with actual funding from the Do Good Institute.
Finally, through the program’s practicum requirement, students gain valuable professional experience that allows them to leverage their newly learned communications and leadership evaluation skills in their field of choice. Past students have interned on Congressional committees, for local nonprofits, in the Student Legal Aid office and even engaged in research in labs on and off campus.
Curriculum Overview
Over the two-year program experience (four semesters), students will complete a 3-credit oral communication course that will count toward their PL Scholars citation and General Education requirements. Note that your Scholars courses will generally be in addition to any courses you take to satisfy major requirements.
The following table represents a typical two-year curriculum, but individual schedules may vary. Details about courses and requirements can be found on the PL Citation Checklist.
| SEMESTER | COURSE | CREDITS |
|---|---|---|
| Freshman Fall | Scholars Colloquium | 1 credit |
| Public Leaders and Active Citizens | 3 credits | |
| 3–4 courses toward degree and major requirements (including possible supporting course) | 9–12 credits | |
| Freshman Spring | Scholars Colloquium | 1 credit |
| Academic Writing | 3 credits | |
| 3–4 courses toward degree and major requirements | 9–12 credits | |
| Sophomore Fall | Scholars Colloquium | 1 credit |
| Oral Communications Course (may be taken during any of the 4 semesters) | 3 credits | |
| 3–4 courses toward degree and major requirements (including possible supporting course) | 9–12 credits | |
| Sophomore Spring | Scholars Practicum | 3 credits |
| 4–5 courses toward degree and major requirements (including oral communications course if not already completed) | 12–15 credits |
Sponsoring College
Residence Hall
Cumberland Hall
Office Address
1120 Cumberland Hall
Office Phone
Faculty
Social Media Etc.
Do Good Institute: Public Leadership Students Award Grants to Local Nonprofits, May 2022
School of Public Policy: How Networking Landed Public Leadership Student Lexi Naskiewicz an Internship at the National Police Foundation, December 2021
Do Good Institute: Five Social Impact Groups Awarded $1,000 by Freshman Public Leadership Students, May 2021
Public Leadership News
Showering the Community With Support
In the parking lot of the First United Methodist Church in Hyattsville, Md., on a pleasant April morning, one vehicle stood out among the usual cars and SUVs. One of the two doors on a small silver trailer, with the slogan “Serve humbly. Encourage faithfully. Renew dignity” emblazoned on the back, swung open, and a man stepped outside.Founded by Public Leadership Scholars and UMD alum Omolayo Adebayo ’11, the Neighborhood Well sets up at the church from 9 a.m.-noon every second and fourth Saturday of the month, weather permitting, to offer not only showers, but also food, clothes, toiletries and a welcoming environment.
Historic Gift Fuels Record-Breaking Giving Day for College Park Scholars
COLLEGE PARK, MD. — On March 4, 2026, the University of Maryland united its entire community—faculty, staff, parents, friends, alumni, and students—for its annual campus-wide Giving Day, the largest single day of giving in support of the university’s mission.For College Park Scholars, the day became one for the record books: nearly $182,000 raised from over 100 donors, the most successful fundraising effort in the program’s history. Powering that milestone was a transformational $50,000 matching gift and endowment from alumni Melissa and Hart Rossman—a contribution that doubled every dollar donated and permanently established a new program fund to support future generations of Scholars.
Mckinley’s Climb
In the “fireman’s carry,” a wrestler hoists an opponent over their shoulders before flipping them to the mat. It sounds like a move favored by mountainous pros like the Rock or the Big Show, but it’s also the favorite of a freckle-faced 5’5” Terp who stands among the nation’s best female collegiate grapplers.Then-freshman Mckinley Jovanovic, who is a Public Leadership scholar, won last year’s National Collegiate Wrestling Association (NCWA) Mideast regional tournament in the women’s 131-pound weight class—a first for a UMD woman in any class—and finished fifth in nationals to net All-American honors.
PL Alum Tapped to Lead State Government Relations
The University of Maryland recently named Maryland Delegate Jazz M. Lewis as its director of state government relations. As director, Lewis will serve as the university’s primary liaison to state and local officials, working closely with senior leadership, faculty and campus partners to advance UMD’s priorities.Lewis is a two-time graduate of the University of Maryland, earning a Bachelor of Arts in government and politics and a Master of Public Policy degree. As an undergraduate, he participated in College Park Scholars’ Public Leadership Program, an experience he credits with launching his career in public service.
Scholar Earns Philip Merrill Presidential Honors
A College Park Scholars alum has been tabbed one of the University of Maryland's top graduating seniors. Senior Anna Karan, a Psychology major who received her Scholars citation from Public Leadership, was one of 18 students selected as a 2025-26 Philip Merrill Presidential Scholar. The program, established through a generous gift from the late publisher Philip Merrill, recognizes the achievements of the students and the mentors who profoundly impacted their academic success.
UMD students learn about dangers of microplastics at documentary screening
University of Maryland students gathered in Hoff Theater to attend a film screening and panel about the hidden dangers of microplastics on Wednesday evening.The Student Government Association, Sustainable Ocean Alliance and Maryland’s Sierra Club organized the event. Attendees watched “Plastic People,” a documentary chronicling the history of plastic materials and how they evolved to become a part of daily life.Public Leadership Scholars alum Alicia Barnett, SGA's sustainability director, spoke about the importance of the event and how students can get involved with environmental sustainability through campus organizations.