We aspire to differentiate WashU as the premier institution for developing purpose-driven leaders of character and capability.
Our vision for the future is audacious and we have much to do. In our first year, we are focused on five specific objectives:
- Cultivate a shared mental model of WashU’s distinctive perspective on leadership and the vehicles for leader development.
- Scale the reach of leader development across WashU’s undergraduate program.
- Build meaningful partnerships and pilot programs with constituents outside WashU’s undergraduate program—to include faculty, staff, and graduate students.
- Innovate in evidence-based leader development programs through experiments, pilots, and research partnerships.
- Secure resources for the long-term sustainability and broadening impact of the Bauer Leaders Academy.
Outcomes
As we embark on our work, we are encouraged by the promising impact of pilot programs that preceded the Bauer Leaders Academy:
- In the Fall of 2022, we piloted our work with a first-year seminar for the Danforth Scholars Program, housed in the Office of Scholar Programs, focused on exploring purpose, strengths, and values. We guided students to create a statement of personal purpose and complete a capstone project—a vision board embodying their personal purpose.
- In the Spring of 2023, we piloted a leadership coaching program in partnership with the Office of Scholar Programs. With a focus on emotional intelligence, students worked to define and refine targeted leadership skills.
- The results of these pilot programs substantiated the value of leadership development efforts focused on undergraduate students, encouraging us to continue to scale our efforts through the establishment of the Bauer Leaders Academy.
I feel like the program helped me increase my confidence in myself, my leadership skills, and how I approach group situations. Overall, the program has also helped encourage me to lean more into the practice of optimism.
Current Undergraduate Student, 2023-2024 Bauer Leaders Academy Coaching Participant
Our stories
What Leadership Really Looks Like: A Reflection on Chancellor Martin’s Message
As the Class of 2025 heads into their final year at WashU, Chancellor Andrew D. Martin shared a message that goes far beyond academics. In his recent remarks, he offered a vision of leadership that feels especially true to the heart of what we believe at the Bauer Leaders Academy. Leadership isn’t about being the […]
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 […]
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Reach out today to learn more about how the Bauer Leaders Academy can enhance your WashU experience.