This study proposes the leadership practices that are necessary to nourish and improve the overall educational department by increasing the success rate of the students in a higher education setting. The study aims to furnish the in-depth understanding of the effective leadership practices and the student academic success. A qualitative, holistic case study utilized Kouzes and Posner's (K & P's) five practices of exemplary leadership influence the instructional leadership practices of higher education in the Southwest United States area. Based on the data sampling, the researcher found that two department chairs scored high in the range Models the Way from the K & P's five practices of exemplary leadership. The results of the study suggested that K & P's five practices of exemplary leadership influenced two department chairs instructional leadership practices by demonstrating Models the Way: clear on leadership philosophy, breaks projects into chunks, ensures values are adhered to, lets other know beliefs and values, practices what is espoused, and sets clear goals and milestones. Furthermore, two instructional leadership practices Enables Others to Act and Encourages the Heart were both scored equally. Recommendation for further research should expand the sample sizes and focus on mixed methods or quantitative study to investigate leadership models and the practices that are associated with student achievement in the United States area. [The dissertation citations contained here are published with the permission of ProQuest LLC. Further reproduction is prohibited without permission. Copies of dissertations may be obtained by Telephone (800) 1-800-521-0600. Web page: http://bibliotheek.ehb.be:2222/en-US/products/dissertations/individuals.shtml.]