Developing Culturally Aware School Leaders

Abstract

Developing globally minded citizens has become a national push and a stated priority for many higher education institutions in the United States. This article focuses on one university’s efforts to develop globally minded school leaders who are accepting of and comfortable with diversity. The University of North Carolina Wilmington has created an international practicum for master’s and doctoral-level students in the Educational Leadership Department. This study focuses on the outcomes of this international practicum. Data from this mixed methods study are presented on participants’ shifts in attitudes about cultural diversity as measured by the Miville-Guzman Universality Diversity Scale survey and interviews. The article also provides suggestions about processes and experiences necessary to support and facilitate participants’ shifts to embrace diversity and global perspectives.