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Mount Saint Mary’s University (MSMU or the Mount) has been a leader in women’s education since its founding in 1925 by the Sisters of St. Joseph of Carondelet, and is the only Catholic women’s college in the western United States. For 42 years, the Women’s Leadership Program has supported students becoming women of influence, prepared to view professional life as a service to the broader society.<br/><br/>The core of the Women’s Leadership Program is the intensive Leadership Scholar Program, a comprehensive, cohort-based experience with an emphasis on students working together to accomplish change and make a difference for the common good. First- and second-year students are selected for the program based on their commitment to contribute to their campus, their community, and their personal development through service and leadership activities. Leadership Scholars are supported by close peer relationships with their cohort and staff mentors during their four years at MSMU, and serve as role models for academic success and ethical behavior on campus. <br/><br/>There are many other ways that students at the Mount can develop as leaders even if they do not participate in the Leadership Scholar Program. Leadership opportunities are present throughout academic and co-curricular activities at MSMU, and the Mount Leads initiative was launched during the 2016-2017 academic year to develop a common language of leadership for all students, faculty and staff. Through Mount Leads, students gain a comprehensive understanding of leadership that encourages them to recognize and embrace opportunities to grow as leaders at the Mount and to make meaning of those experiences. Students explore four core principles of leadership—-awareness of self/personal wellness, ethical decision making and integrity, critical thinking and communication skills, and active citizenship. Co-curricular and curricular activities have been mapped to one or more of these core principles, enabling students to develop a leadership map for themselves and better understand how their academic and co-curricular activities complement each other to develop their leadership capacity. Mount Leads is designed to ensure that students are equipped to communicate effectively about their leadership skills after graduation as they continue their professional and personal development. <br/><br/>A powerful co-curricular experience for students who are interested in public policy is the Public Leadership Education Network (PLEN). Every year, hundreds of women students from colleges and universities across the country attend PLEN seminars in Washington, D.C., to experience first hand how public policy is shaped and to connect with women leaders who are making and influencing public policy in Congress, the courts, federal agencies, the private sector, policy research and advocacy organizations, and the media. MSMU has been an active participant in PLEN for over twenty years, and awards full and partial scholarships to undergraduate students to attend PLEN seminars. During the 2017-2018 academic year, MSMU plans to send approximately 20 students to four PLEN seminars: Women, Law and Legal Advocacy; Women in Corporate and Nonprofit Leadership; Women in STEM Policy; and Women in Global Policy. The knowledge and connections that students gain from participating in PLEN helps them see their own path as public policy leaders and increases their confidence that they can become the leaders they wish to see. <br/><br/>A $10,000 grant from the Dudley T. Dougherty Foundation would allow us to increase our support for student participation in the PLEN seminars and would help open doors to students who are committed to making positive change in their communities and the world but struggle to afford travel expenses. We are deeply grateful for the past support the Dudley T. Dougherty Foundation has provided for the Women’s Leadership Program at Mount Saint Mary’s. Your confidence and investment in our students helps transform lives. <br/> |
