
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
What We Do
We develop and deliver student leadership programs across WashU.
An Immersive Experiential Model
The Bauer Leaders Academy serves as a core structure for developing and delivering programs in service of the University’s strategic initiative—WashU Leads—to differentiate WashU as the premier institution for developing leaders of character and capability.
The signature of the Bauer Leaders Academy is a four-year leadership development program for undergraduates. This program is distinctive in its integration of experiential learning, distinctive coursework, and direct coaching.

WashU Student Leadership Journey

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 & Skills
Students who elect to go deeper into leadership development through learning and practice will have a variety of means through which to do so.
One offering is access to Leadership Coaching. Coaching has proven highly effective for self-awareness and the growth of confidence and skills as leaders. Participants identify key objectives for their development as learners and leaders, and each certified coach works with a small group of students with similar objectives.
Students also have several opportunities to take courses infused with the WashU model of leader development. The Bauer Leaders Academy provides funding for faculty members across disciplines to develop courses that situate leadership in students’ diverse areas of interest.
Students can also accelerate their development as leaders of character and capability through a range of extracurricular workshops, programs, and events. One signature event—WashU’s Leadership Week—clusters multiple experiences to shine a spotlight on WashU’s distinctive approach to leader development.
Our Stories
WashU Launches Ambitious Campaign to Address Global Challenges – and Elevates Leadership at Every Level
Washington University in St. Louis has officially launched a bold and forward-thinking campaign aimed at tackling some of the world’s most pressing challenges. With a $1 billion fundraising goal and a mission to redefine the role of research institutions in shaping the future, this campaign is more than a call for support—it’s a call to […]
Three Cohorts, One Shared Goal: Redefining Leadership Through Reflection
This spring, students across three Bauer Leaders Academy cohorts—the International Student cohort, the Danforth Scholars cohort, and the Taylor Stars cohort—gathered for a semester of coaching, workshops, and meaningful reflection centered around one theme: how to lead with purpose. Though each cohort brought different lived experiences and perspectives, common threads emerged: leadership as influence, not […]
The Class of 2025: Ready to lead
The Class of 2025 Class Acts graduating students said the leadership lessons they learned in their coursework, co-curricular activities and pre-professional experiences have prepared them to be better scientists, policymakers, artists and community members.
Connect with us
Upcoming Events

Reach out today
leadersacademy@wustl.edu
Bauer Leaders Academy
MSC 1300-226-160
One Brookings Drive
St. Louis, MO 63130