Grant recipients work with the Bauer Leaders Academy to develop a new course or infuse an existing course with material that helps students think critically about purpose and leadership. WashU conceives of leadership as something that is independent of role or position. Bauer Leaders Academy is able to provide funding in partnership with the Bauer Leadership Center.
Proposal opportunities will reopen Fall 2026 for the following academic year.
We encourage proposals from any discipline. Sample topics that focus on self-discovery and insights include:
- Purpose and its implications for one’s life and career
- Understanding and developing one’s strengths and character, to grow as a leader
- Exploring leadership and meaning for oneself
- Exploration of values, and how to use them to have positive impact
- Developing ethical thinking and the capacity to use it
Classes
Six new courses have been added for the 2025-2026 academic year:
| Course | Professor |
|---|---|
| First Year Foundations for Engineers (ENGR 120) | Carter, LaVeasey |
| Introduction to Playwriting (L15 Drama 351) | Ezer, Zachariah |
| Capstone Seminar in Educational Studies (EDUC 4999) | Gilbert, Lisa |
| US-China Relations from Conflict to Engagement, 1949-2016 (EALC 3600) | Ma, Zhao |
| Modern Humor Writing (L13 305) | McPherson, Heather |
| Management Communication (B53 MGT 201) | Thomas, Staci |
We provided funding for 12 courses in 2024-2025. Professors may opt-in for a second year of funding in 2025-2026.
| Course | Professor |
|---|---|
| The Stories that Win (L32/L38 Span 3008) Second Year | Acree, Billy & Sinclair, Betsy |
| Freedom and Resistance in African American Political Thought (L32 Pol Sci 3326) | Gais, Amy |
| Beyond Boundaries Seminar | Harping, Jennifer |
| Immersive Story Studio (L15 Drama 390) | Hunter, Elizabeth |
| Small Business Initiative (B35 MGT 401S) | Malter, Steven |
| Ampersand: Representation of the Holocaust and Literature in Film (L61 FYP 2851) | McGlothlin, Erin |
| Ampersand: Bed Time: Knowing the World Through Objects (L81 EALC 1200) | Sangrey, Trevor |
| Ampersand: The Biology of Cancer Part I (L41 BIOL 144) | Smith, Anthony |
| Beyond Boundaries: Markets and Morality (I60 Beyond 161) | Van Engen, Abram |
| College Writing 1: Dreams and Nightmares (L59 CWP 113) | Waitman, Grace |
| Capstone II (F10 Art 462) Second Year | Wassenaar Savage, Cheryl |
| Argumentation (L13 Writing 312) | Windle, Elizabeth |