Overview

Mission

The Office of Leadership Development works to create future generations of leaders who live and lead with integrity and meaning.   

We provide leadership development, education, and training to all students at Temple through three main initiatives, the Student Leadership Challenge, the Diamond Leaders program, and Academic Connections.

Student Leadership Challenge

The Student Leadership Challenge offers programs throughout the school year that are open to all Temple University students. The programs consists of workshops, lectures, conferences and experiential activities designed to connect the leadership principles to each student's personal experience. CLICK HERE to learn more about the Student Leadership Challenge program offerings and the Leadership Diamond Points System.

Diamond Leaders Program

After earning 50 points in the Student Leadership Challenge, students are eligible to apply to join the Diamond Leaders program. This group of committed students are a distinguished team of Temple students who Learn, Grow, and Lead with integrity. They use their talents to empower the Temple and Philadelphia communities through service, peer facilitation, and developmental programming.

Academic Connections

There are a number of courses available to students through the Leadership Studies Academy. Additionally, the Department of Strategic Communication offers a minor in leadership to provide students with the theoretical background, historical contexts, and core competencies needed to become effective leaders and team members in a variety of fields and professions. The Department of Human Resources Management has a Leadership Certificate program available. For graduate students, the College of Education and IDEAL(Institutional Diversity, Equity, Advocacy and Leadership) offer a graduate certificate in Diversity Leadership.

Together, these programs help students

  • grow in integrity, character and self-awareness
  • identify their core passions
  • set positive examples
  • foster collaborative relationships
  • effectively lead in diverse contexts
  • positively impact communities on the local, state, national and global levels

History

The Temple University Student Leadership Challenge was launched in Fall 2005 by a committee of administrators. The committee reviewed numerous leadership development theories before selecting Kouzes and Posner’s (2007) The Leadership Challenge as a foundation, which is now in its fifth edition.  Using their highly-praised framework, the Student Leadership Challenge Planning Committee developed a Leadership Diamond Points system and seven components that comprise The Challenge.  The components intentionally allow students to learn and practice leadership through a variety of formats. 

As The Challenge grew in both participant numbers and programs offered, staffing needs followed. During the 2008-2009 school year a full-time program director and part-time graduate extern served as the key coordinators of The Challenge. Additionally, the Planning Committee evolved into an Advisory Council, coordinating new initiatives such as the Leadership Living Learning Community.

In order to offer an even more comprehensive leadership development program that utilizes multiple leadership frameworks for students, the Student Leadership Challenge program evolved into the Office of Leadership Development in August 2009. This transition launched the new Diamond Leaders program and an increased emphasis on applying academic connections to leadership education in and outside the classroom.