We aspire to differentiate WashU as the premier institution for transforming people into purpose-driven leaders of character and capability. We believe everyone—regardless of formal status, position, or rank—has the capacity to lead by building trust and positively influencing others. By developing purpose-driven leaders, we will fulfill WashU’s mission to have a positive impact on society.
Andrew Knight, Executive Director of the George and Carol Bauer Leaders Academy and Senior Advisor to the Chancellor for Leadership
The George and Carol Bauer Leaders Academy cultivates leadership through immersive learning, coaching, and transformative experiences.
Our Programs
Student Opportunities
Explore a wide range of programs designed to fit your leadership journey—from coaching and cohorts to workshops and hands-on experiences. No matter where you start, there’s a place for you to grow.
Badging & Coaching
Work one-on-one with a leadership coach to explore your strengths, set meaningful goals, and grow your leadership skills. As you progress, earn a Leadership Development Badge—recognition of your growth and achievements that sets you apart for future opportunities.
Cohort Programs
Join a small, supportive community of peers and grow together through a guided leadership journey. Build skills, make connections, and develop confidence that lasts beyond WashU.
Workshops & Leadership Courses
Put leadership into action through interactive workshops and immersive experiences like Activate STL. These programs give you practical tools, real-world challenges, and space to practice the skills that make great leaders.
Leadership Journey
An Immersive Experiential Model
The Bauer Leaders Academy is a cornerstone of WashU Leads, the university’s initiative to become the premier institution for developing leaders of character and capability. Its signature offering is a four-year leadership development program for undergraduates, distinctive in its integrated and immersive approach.
Self-Discovery: Purpose and Values
College is a natural time for students to contemplate their calling in life and form clearer ideas about their own journey.
During their first year, all undergraduates will have the opportunity to consider their purposes, values, and leadership identities. Orientation and first-year coursework, including the Division of Student Affairs’ one-credit course about the college transition, all feature modules and exercises focused on purpose, values, and leadership. Throughout this first year, WashU will consistently challenge each student to reconnect to their purpose for learning, which will stay with them for decades to come.
Deepening Leader Identity and Skills
Students who want to dive deeper into leadership have many pathways to do so.
Through Leadership Coaching, participants work with certified coaches in small groups to set goals, build confidence, and strengthen their skills.
The Academy also funds faculty across disciplines to create courses that weave leadership into diverse areas of study, giving students the chance to see leadership in action across fields.
Beyond the classroom, workshops, programs, and events accelerate growth. A highlight is Leadership Week, which brings together multiple experiences to showcase WashU’s distinctive approach to developing leaders of character and capability.
Stories That Inspire
Reflecting on a Semester of Leadership: Celebrating Our Fall Cohorts
As the fall semester came to a close, we gathered one last time to celebrate something truly special: the students who committed themselves to learning, growing, and leading through our Bauer Leaders Academy Cohort experience. Over the past several months, almost 100 students stepped into small-group communities designed to deepen self-awareness, strengthen interpersonal skills, and […]
Students Take on the Challenge: Leadership Through Adventure
On November 5, more than 20 students stepped into an interactive leadership experience like no other. In partnership with Adventures of Intrigue, the Bauer Leaders Academy hosted a custom escape room challenge that tested students’ collaboration, creativity, and problem-solving skills in real time. Set on a tropical island where participants had to “appease the gods” […]
Leadership Week 2025: Celebrating Leadership in Every Form
Leadership took center stage this October as the Bauer Leaders Academy wrapped up another inspiring Leadership Week – a campus-wide celebration dedicated to connection, growth, and community. The week featured events for students, staff, and faculty to explore leadership from every angle – from hands-on workshops to large-scale expos – culminating in a celebration of […]
Explore: Future-Ready Leaders
Discover how your leadership journey connects to WashU’s broader vision of empowered impact.
Upcoming Events
CHECK OUT WHAT IS UP AND COMING!
Reach out today
leadersacademy@wustl.edu
Bauer Leaders Academy
MSC 1300-226-160
One Brookings Drive
St. Louis, MO 63130
Connect & Stay Updated
Sign up for our newsletter and follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and LinkedIn!