The Power of Place: Contextual Considerations for Graduate Leadership Education

Abstract

The current symposium explores graduate leadership education in the higher education learning environment. The collection, authored by scholars from a multitude of higher education institutional types, analyzes the importance of institutional context and programmatic focus in leadership education, and takes into consideration the important role the external environment serves in informing leadership program development. Through this analysis, we focus upon opportunities and challenges faculty and students encounter given their leadership programs' situational placement, or “The Power of Place.” Examining the placement of leadership programs within a systems framework inspires creativity and encourages reframing of what initially appeared to be a challenge as an opportunity for excellence.