Leadership Scholars Program
The Leadership Scholars Program at Salve Regina University empowers a select group of students to become thoughtful and dynamic leaders equipped to make an impact on campus and in their post-graduate, professional life. Focused on relational and transformational leadership, the program builds a strong foundation of skills essential for success.
Through interactive programs and reflective discussions, students engage directly with each other and with members of the campus community to make meaning of their leadership experiences. These experiences help students craft a versatile leadership toolbox - one they will carry with them throughout their personal and professional journeys. Rooted in the Critical Concerns of the Sisters of Mercy, the program challenges scholars to lead with purpose, addressing society's most urgent issues with compassion and courage.
Leadership Scholars graduate with more than just theoretical knowledge - they develop the confidence and practical skills to lead from any position, at any stage in their careers.
Eligibility and Selection Process
To be eligible for the Leadership Scholars Program, you must:
- Gain admission to Salve.
- Place in the top tier of applicants receiving a McAuley, Presidential, Trustee or Pioneer scholarship upon admission.
- If invited, complete the program application on your student status page. Students will demonstrate fit with the program through a short answer question of 500 words or less.
Students are invited to apply to the Leadership Scholars Program based on a holistic review of the admissions application, with close attention paid to academic achievement and an assessment of leadership potential as demonstrated through activities, community involvement, service and letters of recommendation. Selected students will be notified by the Office of Admissions.
Application for Current Students
Current students who are interested in joining the Leadership Scholars Program can apply through Seahawk Connection. Email leadershipscholars@salve.edu with any questions.
Year One
Students build relationships with other Leadership Scholars and begin to develop their own leadership philosophy through our Dinner and Dialogue program. In this program, a University administrator speaks with students about their leadership journey and how that connects to one of Kouzes and Posner’s five practices of exemplary leadership. Students engage in dialogue both with other members of their cohort and with upper-level Leadership Scholars, making meaning of the practice within the context of their own leadership experiences.
Years Two and Three
Students build leadership skills through campus opportunities such as the Nuala Pell Leadership Program, serving as an orientation leader, First Year Studio peer mentor, resident advisor or participating in the student ambassador program. They also participate in Leadership in Action seminars, where campus leaders explore leadership in the context of their area of expertise and how it can differ across environments. In learning how to adapt their practice to different circumstances and situations, students are empowered to develop their own unique leadership style.
Year Four
Students mentor younger members of the program, facilitating conversations around leadership definitions, values and role models at Dinner and Dialogue events and Leadership in Action seminars. Having engaged in compassionate mercy leadership during their first three years at Salve, students also complete reflections on their involvement in their chosen leadership program(s), discussing the five key themes of mercy-inspired leadership: Social change, service, calling, vocation and teamwork.
