Leadership development programs have become widespread in higher education; over 1500 different programs had been registered with the International Leadership Association as of 2012 (Owen, 2012). Given the prevalence of these programs and the substantial institutional investments they require, examination of their purported impacts is a valid area…

This study explores the personal experiences of 14 individuals who engaged in leadership opportunities during their college educations. Through in-depth interviews, this study sought to explore how those leadership experiences impacted their leadership, both in their careers and/or in the community, after their graduation from both 2 and 4-year…

The Fallist movements of 2015/16 brought about rapid change to the South African higher education space, which required student leaders to reconsider their roles as agents of change and transformation. Student leaders contribute as stakeholders of and decision-makers in student governance, and some find themselves in a context where their working…

Diversity is an articulated value for higher education throughout the country. This research builds on existing research about how White students experience diversity and how they make meaning of their Whiteness and White privilege. This qualitative study utilized a phenomenological approach to understand White student leaders' experience on a…

This mixed-methods phenomenological case study investigated how the alumni of Science Leadership Academy (SLA), a public high school in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, became change agents in their communities as a result of their time as students at the school. At the heart of SLA's innovative pedagogy is inquiry-based learning. The school is focused…

This study explored the experiences of 18 undergraduate Black women who hold elected student leadership positions from 15 private and public historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) from around the country. For the purposes of this study, elected student leaders were defined as students who ran for offices and were elected into those…

The purpose of this study was to explore the lived experience during participation in higher education of Kumeyaay Indian Nation college graduates. Specifically, the study investigated the factors graduates perceived to contribute to their persistence and attainment of a baccalaureate degree within six years of enrollment at a four-year…

The lack of women in elected leadership roles trickles down to student governance at colleges and universities (American Student Government Association, 2016). The researcher sought to understand how women student leaders made meaning of their experiences as a leader and how their understanding influences their actions and motivations. Through the…

This qualitative intersectional narrative inquiry examined how Multiracial college students find sense of belongingin student organizations by negotiating multiple racial identities and locations in traditionally monoracial spaces.Multiracial students sought membership in organizations because they felt invisible at their institutions. To…

This research explores the different types of motivation that inspired students to engage in an online peer-assisted learning (PAL) leader role. An interdisciplinary online PAL pilot programme at a university in the United Kingdom was reviewed to investigate the experience and perceptions of voluntary online PAL leaders. The purpose of the study…

As higher education institutions continue to employ students to carry out operational functions and supplement professional staff, they should question how the on-campus employment experience is adding value to students' holistic development and education (Peck et al., 2015). The purpose of this study was to identify student employees' holistic…

Research on student-run communication agencies (SRAs) documents significant learning outcomes, benefits for job placement, and career success. Research, however, rarely investigates cultural aspects of the agency experience. This study employed in-depth interviews with agency student leaders and advisors to explore the influence of agency culture…

This study examines the lived experiences of Black male student-athletes at a military college (a predominantly White institution), particularly the experiences of high-achieving members of this population. Participants described their pre-college experiences, mentors, institutional factors, and other meaningful and motivational dynamics they…

The purpose of this study was to explore the unique experiences that Black women student leaders, at a historically White institution located in the Deep Southern region of the United States, described as contributing to their sense of belonging on campus. In this study, I used an asset-based approach to understand how five Black women, all…

This chapter explores the potential and promise of student organization advisors in facilitating student leader development. Through exploration of key aspects of institutional support, the author identifies ways that advisors of all backgrounds contribute to the teaching and learning experiences of students.