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
What Scholars Did on Their Summer Break
It’s a perennial back-to-school query from teachers: What did you do on your summer vacation? When we asked some of our Scholars students and alumni, they had a lot to tell us… and not surprisingly, they made the most of their summer break. Now that students have settled in on campus and the semester is a few weeks in, we highlight some of our impressive Scholars accomplishments from over the summer. Amit and Erin Koppel Year: Sophomore (Amit), Senior (Erin)
Scholars Recognized at 2017 University Awards
Scholars students took home several top awards at the 36th University Student Leadership Awards on Sunday, May 7. University Awards recognized Maryland Medallion Society members and Byrd/Elkins Finalists who have contributed significantly to the general advancement of this university’s interests and displayed outstanding involvement and leadership in campus activities. These students are the university’s top 20 senior students; two Scholars alumni were recognized by the Maryland Medallion Society:
Public Leadership Alum Jazz Lewis Elected to Maryland State Legislature
Jazz Lewis, a 2009 alumnus of Public Leadership Scholars, is currently serving as the second youngest delegate in the Maryland General Assembly. "[Public Leadership] was pivotal to me, I got my first job in politics because of Public Leadership. I interned in the [Prince George’s County] councilman’s office as part of my practicum project," Lewis said. This internship provided him with a "feel for change on the local level," especially in Prince George’s County, where Lewis grew up. Lewis was introduced to this internship opportunity when former Public Leadership Director David Crocker brought in a Prince George’s County council member to speak to their class.
Washburn to Replace Littlefield as Director of Public Leadership Scholars
After working with Public Leadership Scholars for 10 years, Jennifer Littlefield will be transitioning out as director of the program and moving into the Public Policy Undergraduate Studies Office full-time. Littlefield sent Public Leadership Scholars an email on March 8 to inform students that this semester will be her last with PL. "It’s very bittersweet for me as August will mark my 10-year anniversary with the Public Leadership Program, four years as the Director," Littlefield wrote. "I absolutely love PL, its mission, curriculum, activities, staff, and most of all YOU. I will miss it tremendously, but I'm also very excited to be focusing my attention on launching the new major in Public Policy."
Scholars Take Action for Climate at Campus Summit
Scholars students came out in full force for the Climate Action 2016 forum and summit on campus and in DC from May 4-6. The three day-long events focused on climate change and sustainability, looking at how to turn a problem into an opportunity for change. Eight current Scholars found their niche interning with Climate Action 2016 through the Public Leadership (PL) and Environment, Technology and Economy (ETE) programs. “James [Stillwell] offered PL students the option to intern with him this spring, and myself as well as a few of my peers jumped at the opportunity,” freshman PL Scholar and psychology major Pamela Kekst said.