ALA 275: Foundations in Leadership and Followership

To lead effectively, we must first know ourselves and develop the skills of collaboration. In this course, students will reflect on their leadership journey, begin to form a personal leadership philosophy and cultivate a holistic view of leadership. This work will be informed by leadership theories, social justice literature, diversity research, and case studies. Students will develop a toolkit of skills and approaches for effective leadership practice by learning and applying the BLI Mindful Mindset, Leadership Habits, and various contemplative exercises. Using individual practice and a collaborative, team-based project, you will leave the class with a sense of your own leadership identity. ALA: Foundations in Leadership and Followership is a 3-credit course offered in the winter.

What Will Students Learn in the Foundations of Leadership Course?
The course will help students:

• Creatively explore and reflect on leadership identity, actions, and habits to continuously improve leadership learning and development
• Learn about the importance of leading a group or workplace that is diverse, equitable, and inclusive
• Familiarize themselves with various theories of leadership and explore the important interplay between leaders and followers
• Learn and practice daily meditation and other mindfulness practices to help foster their capacity to lead with excellence and critically engage the world
• Work with a group to identify important issues, brainstorm small win solutions, implement ideas at a small scale, and improve their ideas
• Engage stakeholders and collect evidence about a chosen topic through leadership experiments that test their ideas against the world
• Build a leadership “toolkit” that is based on their skills, ability, vision, and personal style

Winter 2025 links coming soon.